The middle schoolers in Mr. Robinson’s class have been tending to their vegetable garden at Foreign Language Academy almost every school day this semester by watering, weeding, and observing the growth of their vegetable plants. Last week the students harvested red and golden beets, spinach, Swiss chard, snap peas, radishes, carrots and kale, and were […]
Peanut Harvest at T.A. Edison Elementary
Students in garden club at T.A. Edison Elementary School harvested a special crop from their schoolyard garden on Thursday—peanuts! In May, before school let out for summer, students in garden club planted sweet potatoes and peanuts, both of which are good summer crops for Schoolyard Gardens. The students removed the shells from the raw peanuts, provided […]
How to Harvest and Prepare Sunflower Seeds from your School Garden
Sunflowers are a great addition to any schoolyard garden. Not only do they add beauty to your garden over the summer, they also provide a tasty treat for children when they return to school in the fall. Ready around September, sunflower seeds are an enjoyable and familiar snack that you can prepare with your students. […]
Third Graders at Ingels Elementary Build Their Very Own Vegetable Garden!
On Sept. 13, all of the 3rd grade classrooms at Ingels Elementary in the Hickman Mills school district built 4 raised beds on their playground. The garden will be used and maintained by every 3rd grade class at Ingels, this school year and for years to come! “Team work makes the dream work,” one 3rd […]
Thinning Seedlings in Your Schoolyard Garden
Now that your schoolyard garden is planted for the fall, and your seeds are starting to sprout, it’s time to inspect your seedlings and do some thinning! If you notice that your seedlings are growing too close together, thinning them out early on—two or three weeks after planting—will give your veggies enough room to grow. […]
Mulching Your Schoolyard Garden
Weeding your schoolyard garden can be a tedious task for students and teachers alike. To help prevent weeds from growing in your garden, consider adding straw mulch to your schoolyard garden. A thick layer of straw mulch limits the weeds’ access to sunlight, thereby stifling emerging weed seedlings. Before applying mulch, weed the garden as thoroughly as […]
Why are my salad greens flowering?
You’ve got your fall school garden planted on time, you’re watering every day, and you’re excited to get those salad greens early on in the season. But one day you notice that all of a sudden some of your plants shoot up a flower stock. While pretty, these flowering plants are not good news for gardeners. […]
Vegetables as Natural Dyes to Use in the Art Room
Vegetables from your schoolyard garden not only feed students, their bright colorations can also spark some creativity! Students who enjoy beets in the spring and fall will notice that the dark red juices from the beets can stain hands, and even clothes. Because of its strong red color, beets can be used to dye fabric, yarn, […]
5th Graders at John Fiske Elementary Plant Their Fall Vegetable Garden!
Fifth graders at John Fiske Elementary in Kansas City, Kansas were eager to get their fall garden planted! On only their second day of the school year, three classrooms came out to weed their garden and prepare the soil for new plants and seeds. Built in 2012 through Kansas City Community Gardens, the garden produces […]
Preparing Your Schoolyard Garden for Fall Planting
With most schools back in session this month, it’s time to start thinking about your fall garden! KCCG’s Schoolyard Garden staff are here to assist you with your garden in any way that we can, but for teachers and garden coordinators working independently, here are some helpful tips for getting your garden started. Decide what […]