Month: December 2024

School Garden Week of December 16th, 2024

This is a weekly look at what is happening in the school garden to assist teacher educators engage their students in agriculture.  It can be used by garden students of all ages however!

Have you been using the Growing Teachers Throughout the Seasons guidebook to assist you with your growing?

 

Want to learn what Growing Teachers Throughout the Seasons (GTS) is?  Check out the Guidebook HERE and the 20 Online Modules HERE!  It is a great way for a teacher to learn how to engage their kiddos in agriculture in a data driven and teacher tested method based on the academic calendar. 

Lets take a look at the weather:

Outside in the raised beds:

We have gotten great rain this week so far.  That will go a long way towards keeping the plants under the row cover growing.

  • I recommend that you inspect the raised beds to make sure the season extension garden cover is secure. 
  • If you do need to check your plants or do maintenance of the season extension garden cover, try to do the work around the middle of the day on a day that is above freezing.
  • Make sure to only work the season extension garden cover if is is fully thawed.  If it is frozen, it will tear.
  • Otherwise, after you make sure the season extension garden cover is secure, they you should be good to go until after break.

Here is a video from the GTS Online Modules to learn more about Season Extension

Inside in the Aerogarden:

You probably have some plants still growing strong in the Aerogarden.  You have two options heading into break:

  1. You can harvest any produce that is left, then clean out and store the unit until 2025. 
  2. You can take the unit home and enjoy produce over break.  Keep in mind we will need to clean and replant the unit in tomatoes in January. 

Aerogarden has some great information on planting on their website.  CLICK HERE for their product manual website.

Click here for the Aerogarden planting guide for herbs –> herb_tending_and_harvesting_guide

 

Inside under LED lights.  

Make sure to harvest all your plants this week and clean out the pots and trays.  The Bootstrap Farmer equipment that the GTS teachers are using can do in the top shelf of the dishwasher.   Getting all the growing materials cleaned this week will allow you to get a head start on growing when you return in 2025!

Are you getting ready to harvest?  Here is a video for safe harvest and storage.

Have a safe and restful Christmas break!

Want to see what others are doing?  Check out the Columbus City School gardens at ccs_growing_teachers on Insta!

School Garden Week of December 9th, 2024

Welcome Back!  I hope everyone had a safe and restful Thanksgiving break.

This is a weekly look at what is happening in the school garden to assist teacher educators engage their students in agriculture.  It can be used by garden students of all ages however!

Have you been using the Growing Teachers Throughout the Seasons guidebook to assist you with your growing?

 

Want to learn what Growing Teachers Throughout the Seasons (GTS) is?  Check out the Guidebook HERE and the 20 Online Modules HERE!  It is a great way for a teacher to learn how to engage their kiddos in agriculture in a data driven and teacher tested method based on the academic calendar. 

Lets take a look at the weather:

Outside in the raised beds:

We hopefully get some much needed rain to water our seedling in the raised beds this week.

  • If the rain goes away, I think watering on Monday or Tuesday during the brief warm up would be a great idea.
  • Monday and Tuesday’s warm up is a good time to see how the plants did in the cold and potentially grab a harvest.
  • I recommend that you inspect the raised beds to make sure the season extension garden cover is secure. 
  • If you do need to check your plants or do maintenance of the season extension garden cover, try to do the work around the middle of the day on a day that is above freezing.
  • Make sure to only work the season extension garden cover if is is fully thawed.  If it is frozen, it will tear.

Here is a video from the GTS Online Modules to learn more about Season Extension

Inside in the Aerogarden:

Hopefully your Aerogarden herbs are doing great.  Let me know if you have any questions and feel free to send me some pics!  Any CCS teachers who need supplies should contact Katie.

Aerogarden has some great information on planting on their website.  CLICK HERE for their product manual website.

Click here for the Aerogarden planting guide for herbs –> herb_tending_and_harvesting_guide

 

Inside under LED lights.  

We should have Bok Choy growing under the lights right now. You may be getting a harvest!

  • Make sure you bottom water your seedlings as needed, and especially check on Friday before you leave for the weekend.
  • Make sure you fertilize according to the label directions.  This is the pink crystal fertilizer from Katie, not the same as the Aerogarden.

Do you need a refresher on bottom watering!  Here you go!

Are you getting ready to harvest?  Here is a video for safe harvest and storage.

Let me know what questions you have!  Make sure you engage your kiddos in the process. Looking forward to a wonderful Ag in the Classroom season!

Want to see what others are doing?  Check out the Columbus City School gardens at ccs_growing_teachers on Insta!

School Garden Week of December 2nd, 2024

Welcome Back!  I hope everyone had a safe and restful Thanksgiving break.

This is a weekly look at what is happening in the school garden to assist teacher educators engage their students in agriculture.  It can be used by garden students of all ages however!

Have you been using the Growing Teachers Throughout the Seasons guidebook to assist you with your growing?

 

Want to learn what Growing Teachers Throughout the Seasons (GTS) is?  Check out the Guidebook HERE and the 20 Online Modules HERE!  It is a great way for a teacher to learn how to engage their kiddos in agriculture in a data driven and teacher tested method based on the academic calendar. 

Lets take a look at the weather:

Outside in the raised beds:

There are not a lot of tasks to do this week in the raised beds due to the cold.

  • I recommend that you inspect the raised beds to make sure the season extension garden cover is secure. 
  • I do not see much time this week to get a harvest or to check the plants. Only on Wednesday does the daytime temperature get above freezing.
  • If you do need to check your plants or do maintenance of the season extension garden cover, try to do the work around the middle of the day on a day that is above freezing.
  • Make sure to only work the season extension garden cover if is is fully thawed.  If it is frozen, it will tear.

Here is a video from the GTS Online Modules to learn more about Season Extension

Inside in the Aerogarden:

Hopefully your Aerogarden herbs are doing great.  Let me know if you have any questions and feel free to send me some pics!  Any CCS teachers who need supplies should contact Katie.

Aerogarden has some great information on planting on their website.  CLICK HERE for their product manual website.

Click here for the Aerogarden planting guide for herbs –> herb_tending_and_harvesting_guide

 

Inside under LED lights.  

We should have Bok Choy growing under the lights right now. You may be getting a harvest!

  • Make sure you bottom water your seedlings as needed, and especially check on Friday before you leave for the weekend.
  • Make sure you fertilize according to the label directions.  This is the pink crystal fertilizer from Katie, not the same as the Aerogarden.

Do you need a refresher on bottom watering!  Here you go!

Are you getting ready to harvest?  Here is a video for safe harvest and storage.

Let me know what questions you have!  Make sure you engage your kiddos in the process. Looking forward to a wonderful Ag in the Classroom season!

Want to see what others are doing?  Check out the Columbus City School gardens at ccs_growing_teachers on Insta!