The 2022-2023 school year is winding down but we asked our educators and students what they were most excited to see growing in their school and personal gardens this season. Here are a few of the highlights!
“I am so excited to watch the asparagus spears pop out of the ground in the indigenous agriculture space at the South Ave garden. We have been cultivating this asparagus & strawberry patch for 4 years now, and I love introducing students and teachers to how delicious asparagus tastes when it is raw, straight from the garden. Many people don't love asparagus until they try it this way. Many of the students at South Ave said they are excited to plant seeds, watch flowers grow, and taste new things! I am looking forward to teaching the Indigenous Agriculture lesson with the 2nd graders- this is a lesson that I haven't taught since before Covid, but it sparks such wonderful conversation around how plants have changed over time through growing technology that was passed down through Indigenous wisdom for thousands of years.” - Ms. Megan
“I love growing spring salad turnips in the school gardens. The sprouts are just coming up now and by the time we have our closing lesson and make a salad with classes, they will be golf ball-sized, smooth, white, crisp, tender, and sweet! They add such a nice texture and flavor to the salad that the kids really enjoy. Over the years I have introduced this Japanese variety of turnip to many people and everyone loves them. The students are excited about seeing their seeds sprout and continue to grow over the next couple of months. They are super excited for strawberries! And especially enjoy opportunities to investigate the garden habitat and "dig in the dirt" to find critters.” - Ms. Nicole
“I'm really excited to grow the "3 Sisters" and explore the different places all the students come from and what things are staples of their diet, as well as what connects us all to the land we share. I'm also really excited to grow the "Dragon's Tongue" Beans, because...Dragons.” - Mr. Josh
“My kids are looking forward to digging in the dirt. And I am looking forward to planting in my gardens and the newly bought raised beds for the front and side yard. Growing food for those in need!” - Ms. Crystal
“I am really looking forward to planting strawberries this year with the students, even if we have to wait until next year to harvest them! I am looking forward to our Indigenous Ag lesson too.” - Gardener Mara
“I am most looking forward to growing bush beans and cucumbers. I love to eat both right out of the garden and I encourage students to do the same. A great fresh garden snack! We had three class votes yesterday in my 2nd grade classes at Sargent. Each class voted to choose which crop to grow. Rainbow chard was the hands-down favorite, followed by multicolored beets, then Easter egg radishes. Students also suggested that we grow watermelon, cantaloupe, pineapple, dragonfruit, strawberries, 'money tree’, and chocolate tree!” - Sam
“I am most excited to put up a new trellis and grow beans and cucumbers over the garden walkway. I am also excited for strawberries and hoping we can eat some before the end of the school year. Students are most excited to try the salad greens for our end of year garden party. They have loved planting the spinach, lettuce and radishes that we plan to eat. They cannot stop talking about how yummy the dressing will be!” - Ms. Dana
We hope that your own gardens are bursting with new life and starting to provide a small harvest to you and your community.