“Good to Grow”
Progress Report -- July 14, 2012
August, 2011 - the seeds were planted for one of Maida’s Special Projects – “Good to Grow”.
THE GOAL
To promote good nutrition, encourage healthy food choices, by growing vegetables in schoolyard gardens.
It’s hard to think of a better way to enjoy gardening than working with our youth to share our knowledge of gardening. By growing their own vegetables the children have had “hands on” experiences learning how they can take a step to improve their health.
WHAT HAVE WE DONE?
-
GCSC Clubs have literally and figuratively planted the seeds (Initiated),for this worthwhile program.
-
We’ve shared our talents.(Collaborated) It has been fun for the students and the volunteers alike; educational and productive as well. The teachers have been most thankful for our assistance. Many schools’ parents became involved with their children’s gardens too. For some parents and children this was a first time experience.
-
Harvest day(Celebrate) was proof that schoolyard vegetable gardens were a success .It’s hard for gardeners to understand not everyone has grown their own tomato; realize that a carrot is a root vegetable; we eat “leaves” in many ways: lettuce, greens, ‘slaw’… and that “roots” are an important part of our nutrition. To see the looks on the children’s faces when told they were about to plant small seed, and that in a few months it would produce an eatable vegetable was/is priceless.
-
Taste testing was another very successful day at school. Some had never tasted a radish or realized what a turnip looked like. They were given the opportunity to try both the leaves and the bulb of the turnip, eat both raw and cooked produce from their gardens.
-
We have posted a Blog page on the Internet. Please check out http://goodtogrow.tumblr.com Included in the Blog are suggestions, lots of articles contributed from participating clubs, and photos from the schools/club participating in this worthwhile project. We encourage more Blog participation.
Suggestions for Continuing to Grow
-
Promote planting additional gardens, perhaps expand what is planted.
During the non-planting months we can: ----
-
Give lessons on worm composting
-
Start seeds indoors in pots made from recycling newspapers
-
Make row markers from recycled materials,
-
Plan the garden layouts
-
Propose a rain barrel
-
Brainstorm with the students
-
Discuss how the children used what they grew, and give them more ideas.
-
Collect/write recipes to encourage using their produce would enhance research, writing, thinking and be useful. These educational components would fit right in with the math curriculum(i.e. : fractions).
-
Everyone loves a snack. Talk about using vegetables for a nutritious snack. Some might not realize they can make a V-8 Juice with veggies from their gardens, or make a healthy dip with yogurt and herbs in which to dip their broccoli.
-
Try an Herb section in the gardens. Everyone enjoys flavoring their foods. Try substituting herbs for salt…another healthy habit. Herbs can be used fresh from the gardens or they can be dried or even frozen.
-
Some might like to expand and plant edible flowers. Flowers can be used as a garnish and/or to decorate the food table. Another whole new avenue to explore.
-
Volunteer our time when school starts. Some schools are continuing their gardens over the summer, which will mean a fall harvest and more room for a cool weather crop planting.
-
Perhaps seeds from existing plants can be saved to re-use.
-
If growing sunflowers, why not use the seeds for birdseed, or roast them for snacks.
Donna Hummelman
Good to Grow Chairman
hummersct@yahoo.com