MV Children's Garden news from Lee Budish for the week of December 17, 2007.  I know there are a lot of festivities this week and anticipated storms. I am sure you won't all be able to get out in the garden as much. The list is pretty much the same, if you can get to it. Have an incredible Winter Break and see you in the New Year.

Everyone rest up because come January, major clean up and pruning to prepare for Spring! Hope everyone gets gardening gifts! Have a wonderful holiday and Happy New Year! Thank you for all your hard work in the garden and with the kids!

And remember, "O, wind, if winter comes, can spring be far behind?"
- Percy Bysshe Shelley

To Do List

1. Need to clean up the fallen leaves in Ms. Zimmer's garden and under the persimmons tree. Have the kids gather and put in a pile near the compost in the back. They can use the buckets since the leaves are light weight.

2. The boxed wood area in between the last garden bed and the artichoke bed needs to be weeded. Once weeded turn the soil, and take the new soil that is piled nearby and amends. Have them mix it together so we can prepare to plant. Let them dig until their hearts content!

3. Weed out succulent area under the persimmons tree.

4. Pull weeds from apple orchard, citrus trees and where the succulent plants are under the persimmons tree. If it doubt on what it is, do not pull, only if you are 100% sure.

5. In the K area you will see farm animals made of terracotta, we need to weed that area and then amend with soil. Please take soil from the new pile near the artichokes; have the kids fill wheelbarrows maybe 4. K area needs massive weed pulling; it just seems to attract weeds.

6. We need to harvest the THOUSANDS OF nasturtium seeds on the perimeter of the pumpkin patch. Store in a paper bag and return to me. This is what they look like, little pebbles. Turn it into a math lesson, grouping, etc. Plenty of seeds or have a contest who can gather the most.... do teams....

7. In the apple orchard, the two tallest trees are Asian pears, under these trees are yummy leaves, please have kids rake the leaves and carry to the compost area. Pile them separately and NOT in the compost.

8. We need to move the debris and wood chips away from the apple and pear trees. Okay to move chips to the pathways in between. Use small rakes and supervise the children so they do not hit the bark of the tree with the rake as they move wood chips away. We need to keep the area surrounding the trees sanitary to keep the cuddle moth larvae from hatching.

9. Keep searching for those snails and slugs in dark places. They are there!

10. Persimmons are ready. If you can eat them, pick them.

Parent Testimonials
Looking for parent testimonials on how the "non-vegetable" eating child is now eating tomatoes as a result of the garden. Please forward to share. Thanks!

Wanted
Does anyone have those huge PINECONES on their property that they can bring in for a project? We are trying to expand our composting efforts, if you have an afternoon coffee, please ask for GRINDS, they are usually happy to give them away. The Camino Alto Starbucks no longer does that but the Strawberry and Tam Starbucks usually do. You can leave by the garden gate and your car will smell much nicer, than the spilled milk and food! Organic air freshener! We want to create a geological garden under the persimmons tree, where things have a hard time growing and tie it back into the geology curriculum, if you have any funky rocks at home, we would love to have. Also, if you are cleaning out your garages and have seashells or fake fish for our succulent underwater garden that would be great. Also, for rainy days, do we have any volunteer hobby wood shop folks or grandfathers, neighbors? Thinking it would be fun to have the kids make some signs for the garden and waterproof. I.e. carrots, peas, lettuce planted etc. Need someone to donate scraps of wood and make so the kids can paint?

Fun Stuff
Also, each class has a camera. Perhaps you may want to document the seasons with the kids in a photo journal? After you document the seasons, you can do a year-end slide show. MAYBE A VIDEO, TOO? Map out parts of the garden. Have kids count and draw apple orchard, can they tell which tree is pear or apple? Just get out that tape measure and ruler.

Rainy Day Fun
Download Vivaldi's Four Seasons and have the kids pretend they are plants and have them guess which season they are listening to.

Thank you all so very much! Please feel free to call me on my cell 342-1870. MOST IMPORTANT THING IS TO HAVE FUN and keep warm!

Posted by Linda Dunne on December 17