Way too Much Fun with Plants!

15 days left until the end of the year!  I can't think of a better way to get ready for the summer than creating classroom grass pets.  Each student in my homeroom made a grass head and decorated it.  Hopefully, they'll be looking alive and sprouted. A plant for every student to take home and care for over the summer.

Yes, there were a lot of giggles and jokes as students decorated their pets.  Our craft supplies were limited but, that didn't stop anyone from creating some awesome designs.  I'll post an update when our "class of grass" is alive and well.  

Surveying the Garden Site

I've spent some time meeting with Admin and considering a location to fit a garden into the existing courtyard.  We already have quite a few beds with flower and shrub landscaping.. we'll clean those up but make the focus of the new bed fruit and veggie gardens.

Here's what I have in mind:  3 tiered raised beds on top of concrete.   I'm looking at the size 4x4 feet but open to suggestions.  I've been checking out Square Foot Gardening for some ideas.

We'll need to put a layer between the concrete and soil to help with drainage and prevent leaching of lime and other chemicals into our soil.  More to come...


Merry Products Raised Flower Bed

Thanks Fund For Teachers!

Here's a little bit about my grant and the Mexican Heritage Garden project.

Adventures in Seed Starting with Division 401

We've come along way since our first  to start 12 culinary herbs last fall... which seemed to die as quickly as they sprouted, the first weekend which we forgot to turn off the light.  Growing plants in a classroom can be difficult.. as temperatures and light can vary greatly throughout the year.  And I'm glad we didn't stop when the first set died.. or the second. 

Seed starting pods have been pretty fool-proof.. and now we've had luck with some seeds that are more difficult to germinate, like papalo, an herb similar to cilantro.  

Seed starting pods with Red Swiss Chard (rear) and Papalo (front).  

An accidental pepper plant...We'll take it!

Plant Cell Model

Looking east toward downtown Chicago on a cloudy day. 

Growing 101:  Lettuce... fast and rewarding

Mr. Skeleton looks on.. Seed starting successes.