Students in Ms. Bodenhamer’s art class have worked hard all semester tending to their vegetable garden. This fall, Hogan Prep Academy Middle School participated in our Grow in the Garden program, a 9-week gardening series in which the Schoolyard Gardens staff visits the school every other week to conduct lessons on different themes, including thinning seedlings, weed identification, insect identification, watering methods, and more. On weeks when KCCG staff does not visit the garden, teachers bring out their classes to tend to the garden by watering, weeding and harvesting.

Ms. Bodenhamer’s class planted beets, carrots, kale, broccoli, snap peas, lettuce, mustard greens, cilantro and radishes in six raised beds right outside their classroom. On my final visit for the Grow in the Garden series, we celebrated with a harvest party. We set up a salad bar in the cafeteria with roasted beets, lettuce, carrots, snap peas, and radishes. The students came through and were able to build their own salad–most came back for seconds and thirds!

Now that the season is wrapping up, the class will close their garden soon by pulling up all of the vegetables and letting the garden rest before the spring. In March, the students will plant their garden again, this time with the experience and knowledge of one growing season under their belt!

To participate in our Grow in the Garden series next season, ask your KCCG garden coordinator!