The conclusion of the summer season is upon us, and it has brought us many conclusions of our own. As the gardens grow and develop, so have our minds, our connection with the earth, and the scope of our project. It became clear that there was a definite need for a designated coordinator for each garden, so that they can receive the focused attention of one person, plus the help that volunteers are willing to contribute. Since then, I have taken on the coordination of the Douglas School garden. The following photos all come from the progress and activity that has followed...
 |
| First harvest of the school year: giant turnips, beets, and cherry tomato |
 |
| Melon harvest: cantaloupe and watermelon (and more cherry toms) |
 |
| luscious cabbage, cauliflower, and brussel sprout growth |
 |
| Jalapenos |
 |
| volunteer sorghum plant |
 |
| Eggplants |
 |
| eggplant flowers |
 |
| summer harvest: turnips, some russets from an over grown patch, beets, collards, melon, and purslane |
 |
| Thanks to Emily and Sidney for help with mulching! |
 |
| butterfly visitor |
Plans are in motion for expansion, including the adoption of a variety of fruit trees and shrubs, implementation of more permacultural techniques, and a possibility of taking over the full extent of the hill below the current garden. Staff and community support has been overflowing, and the kids get more and more open to not only understanding the garden, but eating its bounty; at my last meeting, we ate fresh cauliflower with sunseed dip, read about the nutritional benefits of the vegetable, and reviewed what we learned. When posed with the question of what we learned today, one kid raised his hand and said (to my amusement) that he learned that cauliflower "isn't nasty". Which, of course, is the most important thing.
Find more photos and updates on the school website:
Douglas School/Prep
