This Week in the Learning Garden

This Week in The Learning Garden

2010-03-05T09:54:00.000-08:00

The greenhouse is in full production mode with every available surface covered with seedlings or grafted fruit trees. Many thanks to all the workshop participants who helped with the grafting last month, the trees are coming to
life and most of the garfts were successful. The trees are going to move outside to make more room for student seed trays and all the sowings for the Spring Plant Sale in April.

Today at the farm stand there will be some lovely lettuce mix, head lettuce, a little kale, some chard, carrots, parsley, and bunches of cilantro. We also have a a quantity of fabulous sunchokes from Sean's bead. Also known as
Jerusalem artichokes, these crunchy white tubers are terrific in a stir fry, tasty with roasted vegetables, and perfect with potatoes gratin or sliced raw in a salad. These tall sunflowers bloom in late summer and provide a fresh harvest in mid winter and early spring. Get some to eat and to plant! FThe farm stand opens afterschool at 3:30.

For sale in the nursery we have alyssum plants (which attract beneficia insects to your garden) and some healty parsley and oregano starts. There are also some potted Tulips ready to bloom which make a nice gift.

Hoping for some sun for the work day on Friday!

Sakina

This Week in The Learning Garden

2010-02-26T10:45:00.000-08:00

Greetings garden friends,

Yesterday was a beautiful and busy day in the garden. I harvested lettuce, spinach and carrots for the cafeteria in the morning and Petra harvested kale and chard for a tender and delicious salad we enjoyed in the afternoon. (The
secret is massaging the greens with the dressing.... it relaxes them) We finished up grafting the fruit trees and Anthony weeded one of the big flowers beds. The highschoolers all checked to see what they needed to do with their
beds and made plans for what's next. Jake enjoyed eating a beet he grew and Eljio and Nathan harvested cabbages.

For the farm stand tomorrow we will have head lettuce and salad mix, carrots, parsley, cilantro, kale, chard, and maybe some sunchokes and jacon from Sean's bed. In the nursery we have alyssum plants, assorted succulents, and tulips in pots getting ready to bloom. 3:30-5:00. Volunteer workday is Friday 1:00-5:00 and all are welcome.

This week the gardeners are winning and the gophers are confused.

Sakina

2010-02-19T15:55:00.000-08:00

Greetings from the garden,

Well things are starting to dry out a little and I am hoping to take advantage of the break in the storms. On Friday for the work day we can make some new beds in the north field using a whole bunch of composted manure and straw. Sheet composting is an alternative to digging and something we can do even when the soil is wet. Friday will also be a good day to practice some fruit tree pruning and clean up the flower beds.

It was a beautiful day Saturday for starting the Organic Gardening class. I know a few people missed the first class but new students are welcome to join anytime. The focus this month is to make a plan for your garden, purchase
seeds, and start sowing them. After consulting the Biodynamic calender I have scheduled seed sowing for Thursday the 25th (greens) Friday the 26th (fruits such as peppers, tomatoes, and peas) and Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday (19,30,31) for sowing roots directly in the garden. Students are encouraged to come on those days or schedule some other times. everyone is of course welcome to join us Friday for the work day 1-5

This week I'll be vising my mom so once again no farm stand this week. (Definitely planning to be open on the 24th) Hope you all are getting excited about Spring and dreaming up a lovely garden!

Enjoying the plum trees in bloom,

Sakina

Howdy folks

2010-02-08T09:37:00.000-08:00

The trees must be loving all this rain. It does make gardening a little challenging though... thank goodness for greenhouses! Anthony and I have been weeding the hoophouse, transplanting lettuce, and sowing spinach. This week we will also transplant cilantro, direct sow some radish and turnip and sow chives, kale, and chard inside for planting out next month. I am looking forward to doing some grafting this weekend... are you coming to the workshop?

The Spring Organic Gardening class starts soon. This will be a great class both for new gardeners and those who would like to increase their food production this year and get some personal consulting for a more successful garden. For details see below.

We will have kale, chard, garlic, parsley, and potatoes at the farm stand this Wednesday, 3:30 rain or shine. Workday is Friday 1- 5 as usual.

Living in rubber boots and raincoat,

Sakina

To reply click here: sakina@mcn.org

MCOE Spring Organic Gardening Class.

Classes are second Saturday of the month 10:00-12:30. Hands on activities
and consulting weekdays in the garden, times flexible. Register first day or
class. Questions? Call me, 964-9232

Feb. 13th -principles and practices or organic gardening, seasonal planting
guide, garden planning, and seed selection

March 13th - bed preparation, fertilizing, composting,
and sowing Spring crops

April 10th - drip irrigation basics, transplanting, and
using row covers

May 8th- starting the Summer garden, managing
weeds and pests, planning for Fall

June 14th - Field Trip to a local organic farm

Greetings from the garden

2010-02-01T17:28:00.000-08:00

The sun is shining and I see honey bees and a lovely orange butterfly in the garden. They are feeding on the broccoli flowers and enjoying the warm air.It is always nice to have something blooming in the garden for our pollinating friends. Today the High Schoolers potted-up chamomile, which is not only a lovely herb to look at, but beneficial to the garden and good medicine for people too.

Hail made a mess of the broccoli and chard which are torn and broken. A gopher has gotten into the hoophuse and is on a rampage through the lettuce.The hoop is also flooded since it sits at the bottom of the garden. It could be worse.
We have pleny of lettuce and spinach for the cafeteria and some veggies to share with volunteers but not much extra to sell. Sorry, no farm stand his week.

The Eco Farm conference was very inspiring. I got to see many heroes of the organic farming movement and learned a great deal about the successes and accomplishments of the movement here in the USA. It was affirming to meet other garden educators and non profits working toward a healthier food system. I came home renewed and inspired and excited.

Wishing it was Spring already,

Sakina

Howdy folks

2010-01-14T09:17:00.000-08:00

Sunshine and puddles in the garden today. I have been busy ordering seeds and the high schoolers sowed the perennial herbs for the plant sale in April. Another round of lettuce and spinach goes into the hoophouse this week. Today I am harvesting greens, broccoli, chard, kale and parsley for the farm stand. We will also have Wages Creek potatoes. Come by after school at 3:30 for veggies if you like.

Many thanks to Petra, Ian, and Gigi for helping weed and mulch the garlic and onions on Friday. This Friday we will do a little more weeding here and there, pot-up some perennials in the nursery, spread compost and mulch. Join us 1-5.

with Narcissus in my nose,

Sakina

Greetings from the garden

2009-12-09T16:21:00.000-08:00

The clover is sprouting! The orchard is going to benefit in so many ways from this lovely cover crop and I'm excited to get out and sow more seeds among the apple trees. Yesterday the high school class harvested carrots, put apples in the dehydrators, planted another artichoke in the Food Forest, pruned, sowed seeds, and weeded their personal beds. By the late afternoon it was starting to feel really cold so I put blankets on the outside beds of lettuce, spinach and carrots. Spun poly row covers are kind of like fleece sweaters for veggies. The lightweight cloth allows water to pass through but gives them protection from the chill and the extra warmth helps with growth during the during the cold season. Of course the greens in the greenhouse are growing like crazy, but I think this might be the last week for the cucumbers. The broocoli is thriving in the cool weather and starting to produce an abundance. Today we can sow fava beans and take cuttings for the nursery.

At the farm stand his Friday we will have a little lettuce, chard, kale, broccoli, carrots, spinach, cucumbers, parsley, and lots of potatoes. We will open at 3:30 for about an hour and welcome you to pick your own veggies if you
like. Volunteers welcome as always from 1-5.

Feeling the full moon,

Sakina