Late October in the Edible Garden: Planting, harvesting, new equipment
It’s getting cold, but a lot is still going on in the Edible Garden. Here’s an update from the week of October 26, from Alice Bumgarner, Edible Garden Committee Chair:
Garlic and Onions – Did you know… ??
On Wednesday, October 28, a couple of Primary classes, who weren’t able to participate during the last planting, planted garlic. Garlic is an over-wintering plant. That means that it – along with the onions – will be the only annual vegetables left in our garden after we harvest later in the fall. They take a long time to grow! Some onions even take 300 days to mature! (though luckily not the ones we planted).
Mulching with hay
Primary class planting garlic
The long green shoots of the onion can be cut now, and we’ll probably do that when we have a demonstration cooking day in November. Otherwise, we will feed these plants once a month with fish emulsion, even through the winter. They’re big eaters. And in the spring or early summer, we’ll be rewarded with some big onions and garlic bulbs for cooking with.
Weather Monitoring
Also, I’ve attached a thermometer to a tree in the garden. Students can now check the temperature and measure rainfall with the rain gauge.
Bug Alley
While you’re walking through the garden, you’ll notice that one of the mini-pathways has some flat slate rocks on it. That will soon have signage saying “Bug Alley.” Kids should feel free to gently pick up rocks to look for worms and other beneficial creatures – then replace the rocks gently.
New Furniture
New work table
A huge thanks to parents Ted Murphy and Kenneth Luker!! They designed and built a wood bench and work table for students to use for gathering, journaling and hands-on activities.
Ted and Kenneth spent a couple of days drawing plans to create the pieces using the most efficient cuts possible, bought the materials, and built them in Ted’s wood shop. Please thank them the next time you see them!
I know our kids will get a lot out of these. And we have two more benches coming, as soon as the PTA has the funds. Please don’t forget to give what you can to this year’s fund drive! And if you have any woodworking skills, let me know!
Contact Alice at alice.b@earthlink.net.
New custom bench
Gorgeous lettuces
Late October vegetables
