Monday, October 26, 2009

More rain, signs and seeds

Wow! another inch plus of rain this past week-end - what a year. More fennel was harvested, sunflower seeds are in final stages of roasting production, and basil made its way toward fresh pizza with homemade mozzarella during Mangia Monday- yum.

We have posted new signs in the gardens made from recycled crab bushel basket bottoms (say that three times fast). The signs will support our passive educational ideals for bay-friendly organic gardening. We are experimenting with sign set-up and durabilty - so bear with us if things are askew from time to time!

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

A very rainy week-end, aren't the plants happy!

Well, add 2.5" to our rain totals! Wow what a soggy week-end. Since we last posted, all of our planted seeds, onion and garlic sets are up and growing. The sunflowers seeds have been separated from the heads and will be roasted sooner than later. I can't wait to get a scale to weigh what is being produced!

We planted a few more onion and garlic sets today as well as pansies. I helped a neighbor across the street clean-up their containers from old summer flower growth and then we planted pansies and onions.

5th grade will be doing some more harvesting later in the week. Our beets are ready, the rest of the carrots, cantaloupe. and tomatoes will be taken. Looks like we will have some green tomatoes to ripen inside or save for pickling or frying. Boy, those grape tomatoes are still as tasty as ever! Some of our fennel seed is dry and ready to be harvested too!

It looks like we have some slug or catapillar activity on some of the greens planted in one of the raised beds. We'll set a board out and see if we catch any slugs napping.

Monday, October 5, 2009

Another large harvest

Last Friday the entire 5th grade class spent time harvesting the last of the Indian corn as well as peppers, cantaloupe, tomatoes, carrots, beans, dill, basil, eggplants, popcorn and sunflower. Two raised beds were stripped of their summer crops and prepped then lettuce and cabbage were planted.

All of the corn stalks were cut and are drying to be used as decorations and later will be composted. The sunflower stalks were also cut down and set aside for composting. Pansies were added to the long perimeter bed along Kentucky Ave. for fall beauty and over-wintering.

The class is very excited about roasting the sunflower seeds and popping the popcorn. The produce was divided up amongst the class and taken home by the students.

The garlic, onions, kale, swiss chard, mustard, radishes, and collard greens are all growing well in the canoe garden.