The look on their faces

Unfortunately, the kids were not able to make it out to the garden yesterday at Fairmount Park Elementary School due to the rain. Last week was a great time though, for both me and the children.
I have never worked directly with young ages before this, so I didn't know what to expect when I arrived at the school. I was given a small group that I toured the garden with. We (yes, me too) learned about how plants grew, and where things were in the garden.
Then, we came across the kale bed which was undoubtedly everyone's favorite part of the garden. Interested and anxious, the kids asked me if this weird looking cabbage was okay to eat. I nodded and then continued to split a leaf of kale into enough slices for everyone. To my surprise, the entire group agreed that they liked the strong tasting green. It was such surprise because this was also my first time trying kale, and I didn't like it!

This moment will always stick with me. The excitement and happiness that resulted from something as simple as eating kale, are expressions that I have never seen so pure before. I look forward to teaching other kids about all the different eatable vegetables, and the wonders that come along with them.

And the growing continues!

The rains over the weekend seriously helped our plants over at the garden and the outburst of growth, flowering, and bugs created excitement for the children that visited us.  We spotted a couple ladybugs nestled in the purple bok choy and a little worm hanging out in the damp soil.

This weeks lesson was all about the water cycle!

After explaining water's journey around the world I pulled the garden hose over to the tomato and pepper bed and gave it a good watering, allowing the children to touch the water, feel the wet leaves, and put their hands in the damp soil.  This lesson was a very tactile experience which I believe helps children learn and remember the information.

And this week's winning plant is...

The tomato plant!

Our companions are growing so well together and I was amazed at how beautiful the tomato plants were looking.  The salad greens and kale are looking quite delicious as well.  I was excited to see that the bed containing the three sisters plants (corn, beans, and squash) were starting to take off as well.

Till next time!

-Sam

Join our Earth Day Workday!

The Edible Peace Patch Project

invites you to join our

Earth Day Garden Workday

Saturday, April 19th

9 am - 1 pm

We'll be meeting at Campbell Park Elementary, 

1051 7^th Avenue South, St. Pete, 33705

Morning refreshments will be provided.

Bring along your family and your gardening tools!

RSVP by signing up at http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0C45ABAA23A0FE3-spring

See you there!

	Photo of mushroom at Campbell Park Elementary Peace Patch by Noah Schlager

Pollinator like bees are not only essential for plants, but also for us!

Did you know?…

Albert Einstein was once quoted as saying, "If bees disappeared off the surface of the globe then man would have only four years of life left". 

So, although bees can be scary sometimes and some of us have even been stung, they serve a very important role in growing our garden!

Busy Bees at Fairmont Park Elementary

Today at Fairmont Park Elementary, second and fifth graders learned about the process of pollination and bees within their garden.  The students were quick to point out the newly blossomed squash flower and all noticed that bees played a huge part in creating the plants that feed us.  Not only are bees great for making honey we eat, but fruits and vegetables too!

This lesson came just in time...

Our lesson  this week couldn't have come at a better time.  We were telling the children about pollination!

The class props were set up for us already. Yellow, powdery pollen from the oak trees covered the ground and the cucumber seedlings were forming soft, orange flowers.  A perfect situation to present the life cycle of flowering plants and tie together everything the children have learned from seed, plant, fruit, and flower.

The curiosity and intelligence of the children always makes me excited and keeps me motivated to continue the lesson for next week.  The kindergarteners are amazed by the pink roots of the swiss chard, the purple leaves of the bok choy, and the fact that broccoli seedlings don't look anything like miniature trees they're used to.  The third graders are understanding the concept of composting and how human food waste can go into producing thriving fruits and vegetables for us to eat.  The learning experience for the children is the most rewarding experience that comes from teaching.

As far as the plants are concerned, the garden at Fairmount Park Elementary is doing great.  The purple bok choy is still one of the greatest looking plants with the green and red leaf lettuce coming in at a close second.  The tomatoes and green bell pepper plants are companions in a bed and are really growing up well.  As I said earlier, the cucumbers are beginning to flower and kale is popping up in almost every bed we've got.  Kelly and I gave the entire garden two good waterings and, being a scorching hot day, they needed it.

Till next time!

-Sam



Pull a weed, then learn its parts!

Weeds had their purpose this week...as examples for the lesson on parts of the plant.

 

 

Eager 4th graders present a nice variety...

 

Team-watering some thirsty baby greens...

 

 

All the young veggies are coming along nicely at Fairmont Park, but today's prize goes to purple 

bok choy! Isn't it beautiful?