Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Thankful For Our School Farm


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In November the chores in a school garden slow down a bit, giving us opportunity to reflect on the many reasons that we have to be thankful for our Teaching Garden. We are especially thankful for the many who enthusiastically give their time and strong backs to contribute to the growth and success of our program.
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The opportunities that come our way both locally and nationally give us reasons to be thankful. These opportunities have provided us with valuable leadership learning for our students and their personal growth has been amazing!
 
Our thankfulness reaches out to include our school district, administrators, and corporate sponsors, who support and give us the freedom to create a program that has developed a best practice approach to learning and growing healthy kids through our Teaching Garden. Our supporters have helped launch us, maintain us and change the culture of our neighborhood through promoting healthy living.

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The lessons that are learned in the garden are many. Our students not only learn state required learning objectives, but also about the Earth, water cycles, life cycles, compost cycles, animals, organics, soil amendments, protecting natural resources, tending, caring, collaboration, seasons, and the list goes on forever. So, being thankful for the opportunity to create a hands on, project based, real world learning environment goes without saying.

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There has been a change in our students. Their enthusiasm over farm fresh produce, active learning and healthy living is ever present in their daily lives. For this, we are most thankful. When we hear about the poor health of our nation's kids and the problems that go hand in hand with that, we are thankful that we are on track for growing goodness and healthiness through our Teaching Garden. Our students and community have a great opportunity for healthy bright futures.
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Friday, November 21, 2014

Autumn Happenings On The Farm



When Fall hits, we have to be prepared for it all. At the beginning of the week, there were record lows and our warm weather crops died back, so we had a lot of ripping out to do. By the end of the week, it was 70 degrees and we needed to water and get our cold weather crops pepped up for their growing seasons. We even had a special guest stop by and visit our farm. It was a great week and this farmer is so thankful for our school garden army who work hard every day to keep our farm growing strong. Thanks kids for your hard work this week!  We couldn't do it without you!




























Friday, November 14, 2014

Before A Freeze We Harvest And Prep


The first freeze came our way this week and we had time to prep for it. Harvest time is always an adventure and everyone loved hunting for tomatoes and peppers and snipping the last bunches of basil as the freeze headed our way. The school farmers learned first hand about the change of seasons, the tilt of the Earth and the impact that it has on our farm.


























With the close of this growing season, our farm has given away 685 pounds of fresh, locally grown, 100% organic produce to our local food bank. We benefit from our harvest, but we also are teaching our future generation to give back and lend a hand. Thank you farmers for all that you do for our farm and for others in need.