One of my favorite vegetables to harvest with students is sweet potatoes. As one 4-year-old at Uncle Sam’s Academy for Tots put it last year, “It’s like we’re digging for treasures!” And that pretty much sums up the whole experience. Digging in the soil and finding little (or sometimes huge) orange treasures. The joy that […]
Spotlight: Food Cycle KC
The Schoolyard Gardens team is excited to spotlight Food Cycle KC, a local compost company working with residents, businesses, schools and organizations on the Kansas side of the KC Metro area. We asked the owners Alan and Karen to tell us a little about themselves and here is what they had to say: In 2019 […]
Cool Collard Greens
Vegetable: Collard Greens SYG Variety: Top Bunch Planting Instructions: Leave 10-12 inches between each plant 4×12 beds (K-12) fit 24 plants in a full bed (3 across & 8 down) 3×9 beds (preschool) fit 10 plants in a full bed (2 across & 5 down) Plant to Harvest Time Frame: 7 weeks Plant: mid-March to […]
How to Harvest Green Beans
Curious how to harvest those gorgeous green beans growing in your garden? Watch our quick how-to video featuring Priest, KCCG’s Americorps Service Member for our Community Partner Gardens team, as he shows the proper harvesting technique and also gives some great tips for how to prepare this delicious and easy to grow summer favorite. Harvest […]
How to Harvest Cucumbers and Zucchini
Are you noticing bright little yellow flowers on your cucumber plants or big beautiful orange flowers on your zucchini plants? Take a closer look in between those vines and stalks, because you may have cucumbers and zucchini ready for harvest! Check out our quick how-to video below starring KCCG’s wonderful Community Partner Gardens Coordinator, Amanda! […]
Summer Recipes: Cooking With Little Ones
Cooking with toddlers and preschoolers can take patience, time and probably more of a clean up effort then you always have energy for. The numerous outcomes and benefits of allowing little ones to experience cooking though, can make the whole mess of an experience well worth it! Benefits of Cooking with Little Ones: Promotes adventurous […]
How-To Harvest Garlic
Are the leaves of your garlic plants starting to turn brown and looking a little droopy? Get your trowel and garden fork ready, because it’s time to harvest! Check out our quick how-to video below. For more garlic info, check out our SYG Garlic Tips below or download the PDF from our website here. Check out […]
Using Your Senses to Experience Nature
Summary: Today’s lesson, Using Your Senses to Experience Nature, encourages students to take a walk in their neighborhood, explore their backyard or a nearby park, or even just sit outside and experience their surroundings, but all of it in a unique way. Touching the rough bumpy texture of a tree’s bark, smelling a peony in […]
How to Plant Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes are one of the most popular summer crops planted in our school gardens and for good reason! They’re easy to maintain, making them ideal for schools who break for summer and even though you’ll plant them sometime between mid-May to early June, they won’t be ready for harvest until October or November, when […]
Seed Germination in a Paper Towel
Lesson Summary: Today’s lesson, Seed Germination in a Paper Towel, is a fun experiment that encourages students of all ages to practice their observation skills. It’s easy to conduct at home for those who are participating in distance learning and requires minimal materials, most of which students already have at home. If you’re working with […]