More vegetables added to the garden today

Today, our friends Garrett, Roddy, Brynn and Aliza planted all kinds of good things, including radish, lettuce and spinach seeds in the second bed. They dug their holes, planted the seeds, carefully spacing them from each other, and watered.

We noticed that these same seeds, planted in the first bed the week before, were already starting to poke their heads out of the soil. The kids were very excited to see this. The lettuce looked like tiny clovers to the kids and we talked about how the lettuce would grow and how big it would get.

And we're planting!

Students planted this week! We have basil plants in and then we sowed some seeds... radishes, spinach and lettuce. All have been watered daily with our handmade soda bottle watering cans and marked with plant markers made out of paint stirrers.

                                            

                          

The First Garden Ambassadors are Chosen

Ms. Joslin, Ryan Swain, and the garden ambassadors, planted and watered the first seeds.

Today, the children who would become the first school garden ambassadors were chosen. Bernadette, Ellie, Arhi and Lila planted radish, spinach and two types of lettuce seeds in the rich loamy soil.

They enjoyed digging the rows with their trowels and planting the tiny seeds. Research indicates that dirt does the body (and brain good). These girls loved the dirt and patted the soil very carefully back over the seeds after they were planted.

Questions such as "how long will it take the plants to grow" and "can I come again tomorrow" were the most commonly asked. It was wonderful to see these four kids playing and working in the soil and enjoying every moment of it.

(L to R) Lila, Ellie, Bernadette and Arhi looking at their handy work.

Lastly, they watered their newly planted seedlings with soda bottles that had caps with several holes drilled in the top. This made it easy for the kids to direct the water stream right on to the area that needed it. They took turns watering their sections, put their tools away, and went back to class with all the new knowledge they had gained about the planting process.

An Outdoor Space to Learn and Grow!

Community member and parent, Traci Bisson approached BES earlier in the year about creating a school garden. Traci is an incredibly knowledgeable gardener and also knows how to write grants. She has secured resources for us to start a wonderful school garden in the courtyard. Please visit this blog and watch our garden grow!

James, Annabelle, Mitch and Landon cover the bed in order to help the soil heat up! 

Delivering the soil

We had six yards of super loam delivered from Barrington Mulch & Flower, who donated the cost of delivery, on April 8th. 

Tim Joslin & Ray Bisson worked hard to fill both raised beds in the courtyard as well as change out the soil in the two flowers beds on the right side of the school building. 

Ms. Joslin, Traci Bisson and Mrs. Deely raked the soil into the beds, leveling it out. The soil will now be warmed with the assistance of black plastic. The planting will begin in mid-May.

Barrington Mulch & Flower delivering super loam for the raised beds.

Tim Joslin and Ray Bisson filling the flower beds with new soil.

Ray Bisson putting the soil in a raised bed.

(L to R) Mrs. Deely & Kristin Joslin raking the soil.

(L to R) Mrs. Deely, Traci Bisson & Kristin Joslin