More than Pictures

In March through September of 2010, twenty six at-risk youth in residential treatment at Northwest Passage were given the mission of using cameras to reveal the spirit of the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway. The photographs astonished everyone. However, the boys captured the spirit of more than just a river.

http://bit.ly/dgP1ke

Consider having your students photograph your garden throughout the various seasons.

Pictures: Hillcrest Elementary's Container Garden

As the school year wraps up, pictures from school garden projects keep flooding in.  Here are some wonderful pictures from Hillcrest Elementary School in Oneida, Wisconsin.

First and fifth grade students teamed up to create container gardens.  Students planted beans, carrots, cucumbers, lettuce, peas and tomatoes.  A container garden has a low start up cost and is a perfect for schools without a lot of outdoor space.  Check it out!

To learn how to start your own container garden, visit the "Resources" section of the Got Dirt? website.

100th Post & Photos of Sand Lake Elementary's Garden

This entry marks GotDirtWi's 100th blog post!  What better way to celebrate than with pictures of a school garden!

Fourth grade students from Sand Lake Elementary, in Holmen, Wisconsin, created an in-ground garden with their Got Dirt? grant.  They started some plants indoors and then transplanted them into the new garden.  Check out all of their hard work!

(Starting plants in the classroom)

(Measuring out the garden)

(Getting ready to transplant)

(Working hard!)

Photos: Hayward Primary School's Microfarm

Second grade students at Hayward Primary School in Hayward Wisconsin have been busy working on their school garden.  After receiving a Got Dirt? grant, they created a Microfarm to help grow plants in their classroom.  Check out their fabulous work!

Planting the Microfarm trays

Plants growing in the Microfarm

Learning how to transplant

Learning the parts of a plant

Thumbs Up for Vegetables!

Photos: Boys and Girls Club's Container Garden

I received a call today from the Boys and Girls Club of West Salem, Wisconsin.  After attending a Got Dirt? training session, they started a container garden and the kids LOVED it! 

They planted lettuce, spinach, kohlrabi, radishes, beans and carrots.

Below are a few pictures from their gardening experience...

Have you attended a Got Dirt? training session and started a garden?  Let us know and we will feature your garden photos!

Dear Gardening Friends: Letters from Students

Who says that gardens don't have an impact on students?  Check out these adorable letters I received from a class that just planted a Microfarm.  Not only are the letters cute, but they show just one way for students to practice spelling and writing.

"Dear Gardening Friends,

Thank you for donating stuf

for the garden.  We are

planting, radish, lettuce,

pepper, tomatoes.  Our group

planted tomatoes.  Have a

very happy spring.

Your friend Addy"

"Dear Gardening friends,

Thank you for helping with our

microfarm.  We planted some

veggies.  My group planted red

lettuce and green lettuce.

Yours

truely Ike"

"Dear Gardening friends,

We planted a microfarm.

Thank you for the money

to get us started.  We

planted Pepper, lettuce,

radish, tomato, and spinich

seeds.

From,

Jackson" 

"Dear Gardening friends,

Thank you! Do you have a

garden?  I do.  The pumpkins

usually take over :)  What do

you plant in your garden?

Your friend,

Nel"

"Dear Gardening friends,

Thank you.  We planted raddish,

lettuce, pepper, tomato, spinach.

There are 3 radish sprouts

in the plastic tray.

Have a nice summer.
Love,

Taylor"

"Dear Gardening friends,

Thank you for stuf for our

garden.  We plated some red

lettuce and some lettuce in

our room.  It is a lot of

fun.  You would love it.  I

can't wait to harvest the plants.

From Jake"

Activity: Super Fruits and Veggies

Fruits and vegetables sure are super!  They provide us with vital nutrients and vitamins.  In this activity, students will create super heroes out of fruits and vegetables.

Materials:
Paper
Markers, crayons, colored pencils and/or paint
Research materials

Activity:

1. Either assign or have students choose a fruit or vegetable.  If you've already planted your garden, have students choose fruits and vegetables from the garden.
2. Have students research the health benefits of their fruit or vegetable.  The website Fruits and Veggies Matter is one example of a site that lists examples of fruits/vegetables and their nutritional benefits.
3. Instruct students to draw a picture or cartoon of their fruit/vegetable as a super hero.  The fruit/vegetable's super power should relate to its nutritional benefits.  Encourage students to be creative. (Click on the sample below to enlarge the image).
4. Have students share their super hero and then hang their drawings around the classroom.

Activity: Veggie Stamp Holiday Cards

Instead of using store bought holiday cards, consider having students make their own unique cards using fruits and vegetables.

Materials:

• Paper
• Tempera paints
• Paper plates
• Paint brushes
• Knife
• Various fruits and vegetables, such as potatoes, cucumbers, star fruit, apples, mushrooms, carrots, or broccoli.

Activity:

1. Cut fruits and vegetables into manageable sizes for kids to use as stamps. If you're feeling creative, try carving shapes, such as stars, hearts or letters, out of the potatoes or other fruits and vegetables.


2. Put tempera paint onto paper plates for each student.


3. Instruct students to use the paint brushes to apply paint to the fruits and vegetables and then stamp them onto paper. Students can create collages or try to create a holiday scene for a holiday card.


4. Don't forget to remind students to not snack on their stamps. ;)


5. Let their artwork dry and then proudly display their work around the classroom or give as gifts!

(photo from http://whipup.net/2006/09/18/veggie-prints/)

The first harvest from the microfarm

After planting my first microfarm less than two weeks ago, it is time to start harvesting!

The sunflowers and hybrid popcorn were the first microgreens harvested.

Harvesting was incredibly easy and a lot of fun. It was like giving my microgreens a haircut. Using a pair of scissors, I trimmed the tops of the plants, leaving a small shoot behind. As I harvested the plants, I could imagine a group of young students eagerly awaiting their turn to harvest their crops.

(Above: Before harvesting)

(Above: Harvesting)

(Above: [Left] Sunflowers; [Right] Hybrid Popcorn)

Tonight I'll try the microgreens in a salad. I'm a little nervous about trying the microgreens since the sunflowers look similar to clovers and the hybrid popcorns bare a strong resemblance to grass clippings. As I write this, though, I can hear my parents’ oft-repeated phrase while I was growing up: "If you haven't tried it, you can't say you don't like it."

(Above: Close up of Sunflowers)

(Above: Close up of Hybrid Popcorn)

So I guess it's a hybrid popcorn and sunflower salad for me tonight!

Day 9 of the Microfarm

The microfarm continues to do well. The beets are not nearly as full as the other microgreens. I hope that I planted enough seeds and planted them deep enough into the potting medium.

Check out these updated photos:

Next week I'm hoping to actually sample some of the microgreens. I am told that the tops of the carrots taste just like regular carrots. Stay tuned!

Day 7 of the Microfarm

And on the 7th day we had carrots!

It's hard to believe that just a week ago I planted the microfarm and now all of my microgreens have started sprouting.

The carrots were the last to sprout but they are working hard to make up for lost time.

Check out these photos:

(Close up of the carrots)

Yesterday I watered the beets, sunflowers and popcorn since the lids were removed and the potting medium started to dry out.

After removing the lid from the carrots, I will keep my eye on them and probably water the tray in the next few days.

Below, check out a few pictures of the entire microfarm.

More photos to come as the microfarm continues to grow. Plus find out what we do with our microgreens once they are ready to eat!