school garden calendar 2019 january · order seeds for spring planting. contact us for our favorite...
TRANSCRIPT
School Garden Calendar
2019
January
We want to hear about your garden plans for the new year.
Email us with your
dreams and resolutions.
We are here to help! 513.221.0981
NEW YEAR
Get Organized Order seeds for spring planting. Contact us for our favorite list of places to buy heirloom and organic seeds. We often receive donations for seeds and are happy to share! Survey fellow teachers and determine who will be helping to start seeds for spring planting. Develop a plan so there are plenty of seeds sprouting by late February (early February if you have a row cover).
Garden Tasks The garden can be lovely in winter, take students outdoors to photograph the garden after a snowfall or freezing rain event. Consider starting a garden newsletter, blog or jour-nal so you can share the adventure with parents and community members. Visit our blog for ideas and feel free to share our posts with your school team!
Lessons & Curriculum If you missed any of our free workshops in 2018, don’t fret! You can enjoy the wealth of resources we gathered by checking out the website archive. We have updated outlines for each workshop. Need ideas for winter garden club activities? Our 52 Weeks in the School Garden Guide has garden activi-ties and crafts you can use until the soil thaws!
Building Community through Gardening, Education & Environmental Stewardship
2715 Reading Road Cincinnati, Ohio 45206 P: 513.221.0981 F: 513.221.0961 www.civicgardencenter.org
School Garden Calendar
2019
February
Thursday, February 7th 3:30-5pm
Spring Seed Giveaway
presented by the Civic Garden Center
2715 Reading Road
Cincinnati, Ohio 45206
FREE SEEDS
Get Organized
Collect your free seed package for spring (one per school). Each package contains organic seeds for spring planting. See info in the box below and on our website. View our growing database of local youth garden programs. If your school/organization isn’t listed send us an email and we will add you to the map.
Garden Tasks It’s time to start seeds indoors! Broccoli, Cabbage, Chard, Cilantro, Kale, Onions and more can be start-ed this month. Contact us for help choosing the right lights and soil mixture. Start getting ready for spring planting by cleaning up anything you didn’t get to in the garden at the end of the fall. Turn and sift your compost. Test hoses and watering cans for leaks, replace tools as needed so you’re ready for spring.
Lessons & Curriculum Before starting your indoor garden, ask the students to design an experiment to determine the best way to nurture the germinating seeds. How much water is needed? Which type of soil is best? How many seeds should be planted per pot? Contact us for ideas!
Building Community through Gardening, Education & Environmental Stewardship
2715 Reading Road Cincinnati, Ohio 45206 P: 513.221.0981 F: 513.221.0961 www.civicgardencenter.org
School Garden Calendar
2019
March
Missed our Spring School Garden Seed Giveaway last month?
We have some left!
Stop by the Civic Garden Center for a seed packet at our front desk.
We’re open Monday-Friday
9am– 5pm.
FREE SEEDS!
Get Organized Create a shared calendar and garden map so teach-ers and community partners know when the garden is available and where they can plant, water, weed and harvest. If you plant seeds from our package before the end of this month you should have a salad to harvest in May. Invite parents, community members and all gar-den volunteers to share the harvest.
Garden Tasks Sow seeds for spring crops outdoors. Contact us for free seeds! Check out our blog for tips and tricks about spring gardening. If you have grow lights and intend to plant summer crops, now is the time to start seeds in your class-room. Contact us for more information.
Lessons & Curriculum Include a math lesson as you engage in square foot gardening and making seed mats with your students. Take advantage of nice weather and go out in the garden with your students. Use our free garden les-son plans.
Building Community through Gardening, Education & Environmental Stewardship
2715 Reading Road Cincinnati, Ohio 45206 P: 513.221.0981 F: 513.221.0961 www.civicgardencenter.org
School Garden Calendar
2019
April
Thursday, April 11th 3:30-5pm
Science Lessons in the Garden
Presented by Greenacres Foundation Garden Education Staff
at the Civic Garden Center 2715 Reading Road 45206
FREE WORKSHOP
Get Organized Set aside a few minutes each week to jot down a notes on your garden progress. Record planting dates, germination dates/rates, weather events, etc. Come to a free workshop at the Civic Garden Cen-ter! See info in the box below and on our website.
Garden Tasks Care for your spring garden by keeping the soil moist. Add a layer of straw as mulch to retain soil moisture. Thin young plants once sprouts have emerged. Read our blog for details on thinning. Email us with any questions. Carefully remove weeds that invade your garden. Turn your compost pile to keep it aerated and free of odors.
Lessons & Curriculum Teach students about plant survival and limited re-sources as you pull weeds and thin sprouts. View and use our free garden lessons for more ideas. While most of us celebrate Earth Day every day, the official day (April 22nd) presents a great oppor-tunity to engage families and students in “going green”. Share your garden stories with your school community!
Building Community through Gardening, Education & Environmental Stewardship
2715 Reading Road Cincinnati, Ohio 45206 P: 513.221.0981 F: 513.221.0961 www.civicgardencenter.org
School Garden Calendar
2019
May
Our annual fundraiser is refreshed for 2019
May 3 Happy Planet Happy Hour 5:30– 8:30pm, $25
Come enjoy food, drinks and a DJ while you get the first shot at all the plants.
May 4 The Main Event, 9am—5pm Free and Open to the Public Shop our huge variety of plants!
THE Plant Sale
Get Organized Ready for your harvest party? Schedule your salad harvest day and determine if you will be planting summer crops (see list below). If you have summer crops you need to meet with your gar-den team and create a summer watering & weeding schedule. Jot down reflections in your garden journal. Include notes on how lessons, events and garden happenings went. We can help you navigate through challenges.
Garden Tasks It’s harvest time! Enjoy those fresh greens, radishes and all of the other goodies in the garden. If you aren’t planning to tend the garden over the summer pull out all plant material and cover the soil with several layers of cardboard weighed down with bricks or rocks. This will keep the weeds from growing and in the fall your garden will be ready for planting. Consider growing summer cover crops to enrich the soil. If your garden will be active in the summer it’s time to plant corn, cucumbers, melons, peppers, potatoes, pumpkins, sun-flowers, tomatoes, zinnias, etc.
Lessons & Curriculum Enjoy the warm days of spring and give students a break from the stresses of state testing with a calm walk in the gar-den followed by time to write poetry in nature. Email us for an example student worksheet.
Building Community through Gardening, Education & Environmental Stewardship
2715 Reading Road Cincinnati, Ohio 45206 P: 513.221.0981 F: 513.221.0961 www.civicgardencenter.org
School Garden Calendar
2019
June
School Garden Development Training
Friday, June 28 9am-3:00pm
presented by Ellie Falk Youth Education Coordinator
RSVP to [email protected] by June 21
at the Civic Garden Center 2715 Reading Road 45206
FREE WORKSHOP
Get Organized
Sign up for trainings at the Civic Garden Center! See info in the box below and on our website. Record all of your reflections on your harvest party and best memories of the garden year. Confirm summer watering and weeding schedules with community members who have volunteered.
Garden Tasks Continue to plant corn, cucumbers, melons, pep-pers, potatoes, pumpkins, sunflowers, tomatoes, zin-nias, etc. to ensure a fall harvest when the students return. Weed and thin around desired plants to ensure proper growth. Water the garden regularly. View our blog for tips. If you are leaving your garden to rest for the sum-mer, pull out all of the remaining plants and put them in the compost. Turn your compost to increase air access throughout the summer. Consider planting a summer cover crop.
Lessons & Curriculum The garden is alive with critters, plants and people! Let nature be the teacher as families relax and ob-serve the seasonal changes in the garden.
Building Community through Gardening, Education & Environmental Stewardship
2715 Reading Road Cincinnati, Ohio 45206 P: 513.221.0981 F: 513.221.0961 www.civicgardencenter.org
School Garden Calendar
2019
July
Want a free field trip for your students? Come to the
Civic Garden Center!
We have programs for K-12 and often have options for free busses too! Visit our website for details on our field trips and to book a date.
BOOK A FIELD TRIP
Get Organized Go through your remaining seed packets and deter-mine what you will need for fall planting. Upload all of your garden photos and make an al-bum to share with students and community mem-bers. Visit the garden often to ensure it isn’t becoming a wild weed patch and things are being watered.
Garden Tasks Summer crops need regular watering, at least one inch per week. Install a rain gauge to help you deter-mine when to water. Harvest produce as it ripens so your garden doesn’t attract scavengers. Share the bounty with neighbors! If you have major bug infestations email us with a photo and we’ll suggest an organic solution.
Lessons & Curriculum Plan a water day when you can get wet and have fun! Bring sprinklers, balls, balloons and more. The garden will benefit and you’ll have a good time too. Include some content on the water cycle and storm water management!
Building Community through Gardening, Education & Environmental Stewardship
2715 Reading Road Cincinnati, Ohio 45206 P: 513.221.0981 F: 513.221.0961 www.civicgardencenter.org
School Garden Calendar
2019
August
Thursday, August 15th 3:30-5pm
Fall Seed Giveaway
presented by the Civic Garden Center of
Greater Cincinnati
at the Civic Garden Center 2715 Reading Road 45206
FREE WORKSHOP
Get Organized Start your garden journal and write down projects you’d like to complete this fall. Email us at [email protected] and let us know how we can help. Come to a free workshop at the Civic Garden Cen-ter! See info in the box below and on our website: www.civicgardencenter.org
Garden Tasks Harvest produce growing from the summer. Tackle weeds that have invaded your garden. Clear out space for planting cool season crops (our favorites: Arugula, Carrots, Cilantro, Kale, Lettuce, Radishes, Sorrel, Spinach, Swiss Chard).
Lessons & Curriculum • Sign up for a Compost Kids field trip at the Civic Garden Center and inspire your students. Dates will be posted by August 13th and fill up quickly. Check out our website here for application details and regis-tration. Turn the compost bin and record the different items inside. Do you find decomposers? Is it bal-anced with 1/3 “greens” and 2/3 “browns”? Predict how the pile will look in the spring.
Building Community through Gardening, Education & Environmental Stewardship
2715 Reading Road Cincinnati, Ohio 45206 P: 513.221.0981 F: 513.221.0961 www.civicgardencenter.org
School Garden Calendar
2019
September
Greater Cincinnati Environmental Educators
present the
ULTIMATE EDUCATOR EXPO Tuesday, September 24th 2:30-6:30pm
TOTALLY FREE! TONS OF RESOURCES!
hosted by Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden 3400 Vine St, Cincinnati, OH 45220
Click here to register
FREE RESOURCES
Get Organized Create a shared calendar to determine when the gar-den will host student programs and which tasks will be completed by garden committee members and/or students & teachers. Attend the Ultimate Educator Expo at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanic Garden! See info in the box below and on this website.
Garden Tasks Harvest produce growing from the summer. Continue to plant cool season crops until the middle of the month (Arugula, Carrots, Cilantro, Kale, Lettuce, Peas, Radishes, Sorrel, Spinach, Swiss Chard). Pull out spent plants and add them to the compost. Save seeds to plant next year.
Lessons & Curriculum Determine variables to test in the garden such as the amount of water, sunlight, soil, etc. that is needed for optimal plant growth. Don’t forget to set up a control for comparison. Sign up for a field trip to the Civic Garden Center and inspire your students. We have wonderful programs for all ages! Find a program on our website here.
Building Community through Gardening, Education & Environmental Stewardship
2715 Reading Road Cincinnati, Ohio 45206 P: 513.221.0981 F: 513.221.0961 www.civicgardencenter.org
School Garden Calendar
2019
October
Thursday, October 10th 3:30-5pm
Composting in the School Garden
presented by Cher Mohring and Angela Rivera, Hamilton County Recycling and Solid Waste District
at the Civic Garden Center 2715 Reading Road 45206
FREE WORKSHOP
Get Organized
Schedule and plan a fall harvest festival and invite the community Come to a free workshop at the Civic Garden Cen-ter! See info in the box below and on our website Contact us to learn ways to extend the growing season into the coming months Decide if you want to plant cover crops
Garden Tasks Harvest cool season crops such as Chard, Lettuce, & Spinach. Don’t pull up the entire plant, just snip off the leaves and the plant will continue to grow and produce more leaves for harvesting Pull out spent plants and add them to the compost Save seeds to plant next year Inspect any season extension supplies to ensure they are ready for use (cold frames & low tunnels) Contact us for help winterizing your raised beds
Lessons & Curriculum Challenge your students to research ways plants and animals survive seasonal changes Focus on roots as students pull out spent plants & discuss root adaptations (potatoes, rhizomes, etc.)
Building Community through Gardening, Education & Environmental Stewardship
2715 Reading Road Cincinnati, Ohio 45206 P: 513.221.0981 F: 513.221.0961 www.civicgardencenter.org
School Garden Calendar
2019
November
Are you having a harvest celebration?
We want to hear about it. Need
ideas for what to do? Eating from
the garden is one of our favorite
school garden activities.
Contact us to share your stories or
ask questions.
HARVEST PARTY
Get Organized Want to keep growing in the winter months? Read our blog post here for information on winterizing your garden. Record what worked and what didn’t this fall. It’s never too early to make plans for spring! Apply for grants to fund new supplies. View our grant writing basics tips from our Teacher Workshop Archives.
Garden Tasks Pull out spent plants and add them to the compost. Save seeds to plant next year. Install season extenders (cold frames & low tunnels) and continue harvesting hardy greens. Last chance to plant perennials, spring blooming bulbs (tulips, daffodils, crocus) and garlic. Compost correctly! Layer green materials with dried leaves (browns & greens). Contact us for a how-to. Top off empty beds with compost.
Lessons & Curriculum Ask the students to reflect on their fall gardening experiences. Ask students to record their observa-tions of the changing seasons in a poem. Collect fallen leaves and make rubbings with the students. Measure the leaves and record this data.
Building Community through Gardening, Education & Environmental Stewardship
2715 Reading Road Cincinnati, Ohio 45206 P: 513.221.0981 F: 513.221.0961 www.civicgardencenter.org
School Garden Calendar
2019
December
Thursday, December 12th 3:30-5pm
Creating Wildlife Habitat: Make
Your Schoolyard Come Alive!
presented by the Steve Inglish, SW Ohio Habitat Ambassador,
National Wildlife Federation
at the Civic Garden Center 2715 Reading Road 45206
FREE WORKSHOP
Get Organized
Set a timeline for spring projects. If you need help writing a budget and finding local supplies just send us an email. Come to a free workshop at the Civic Garden Cen-ter! See info in the box below and on our website.
Garden Tasks Continue to prepare your garden for winter. Read our blog on putting your garden to bed for sugges-tions. Consider hanging colorful flags or lawn ornaments in the garden to add some cheer! Take an inventory of your tools and identify items that need to be sharpened, repaired or replaced.
Lessons & Curriculum Use natural items from the garden (seed heads, dried leaves or flowers) to create holiday gifts for family and community members. Discuss holiday traditions that are good for the en-vironment such as composting pine trees, using live trees and making bird feeders. Help students identify ways they can go green! Speaking of bird feeders, winter is a great time to learn about common birds in our region. The bare trees make them much easier to spot.
Building Community through Gardening, Education & Environmental Stewardship
2715 Reading Road Cincinnati, Ohio 45206 P: 513.221.0981 F: 513.221.0961 www.civicgardencenter.org