For many years we have been spreading the idea that family gardens and shools gardens are the best tools to combat child malnutrition and hunger.
Martin WARE (The Potted Vegetable Garden, see former postings) visibly got the message and contributed to the start of a school garden in Australia.
Congratulations, Martin, and we wish you and the kids a lot of success.
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Read at :
http://www.pottedvegetablegarden.com/1/category/freckles%20preschool%20vegetable%20garden/1.html
Let’s Get Gardening at Freckles Tweed Heads
Freckles Preschool Vegetable and Herb Garden has just gone underway at the beginning of this spring. We probably could of gotten off to an earlier start but we are all excited that it is underway. This first season will be a trial to see how the vegetables, herbs and fruit trees perform over time. The plan is to teach the children about sustainable gardening and how it can perform well in small and large spaces.
Marty Ware from the Potted Vegetable Garden will be overseeing and teaching the children how it can be done successfully.
The garden will be created in stages over time with the children’s hands on, digging, watering, planting and fertilizing!
I must say this is super exciting as it starts the children off young and helps them develop new skills and a sense of pride by creating a garden that produces food.
Freckles Veggie Garden Plan
This is where it all starts!
The Freckles Garden plan!
Lets have fun and get creative!
The Plan
1. Sprinkle dolomite onto the soil to sweeten it up and add the trace element calcium for optimum plant growth.
2. Let the soil sit for two days after adding dolomite.
3. Top dress the garden with more soil it give it more depth for deep rooting plants. This will also help retain moisture for all the plants.
4. Add Mushroom compost to the soil and mix it through. This help retain moisture, increase microorganisms and provide nutrients for all the plants.
5. Plant out the garden over the next two weeks in the early morning with herbs, fruits and vegetables.
6. Create a watering roster for the teachers and kids.
Long Term Gardening Goals For Preschool students
Freckles Preschool Vegetable and Herb Garden is off to a great start and at present we are developing a plan for the children’s veggie, fruit and herb garden
The main goals are to make this fun and enjoyable for all.
This way the children will not look at the Vegetable herb garden as a chore.
The children will get a chance to taste test all of the produce grown.
The fruit trees will take a little time to set fruit, but we are hoping that this fresh fruit can be eaten at morning tea.
Yes, the children will pick it straight off the trees and the garden.
The first trees to go in are Red Papaya and may possibly set fruit by the end of summer.
By establishing this early education we hope to provide the children with future options of growing their own healthy fresh food.
The great thing is now many schools already offer this type of sustainable gardening education, so what are great way to an early start.
Seed Collection
If the program proves successful there will also be a seed collection program where all the seeds from the garden will be sprouted and replanted next season.
What will we plant?
What will we plant?
Well this is great question.
We will need to trial a variety of herbs, fruits and vegetables over time, but to start off we will use!
Herbs
Mint
Parsley
Sweet Basil
Garlic Chives
Vegetables
Zuchinni
Fruits
Strawberries
Papaya
Citrus
PRAY FOR SUCCESS!
Lets pray that this becomes a flying success over the years in many schools and that parents with the knowledge will free up some spare time to teach the kids all about urban sustainable gardening. Also we appreciate any input, so please leave a comment below. We will get back to each and everyone of you!
Happy Gardening from Marty, Karin and the Potted Vegetable Garden
