Green School Plants Garlic Again

A lot of the garlic planted in the fall at QE failed, or was eaten or damaged, so Green School replanted it one during lunchbreak last week.  First Catriona gave a lesson on the lifecycle of garlic, and how to plant it, then  the kids grabbed tools and got to work.  Finally the bed was covered in straw to protect the emerging shoots from the elements.  Half the sidewalk was covered too, so Catriona and Allison stayed behind to clean up!. 

The garlic planted now won't be as big as that planted in the fall, but replanting ensures there will be plenty to go around at the June harvest festival.

Time to plant garlic

The kindergarden classes planted up their garden with lots of garlic last week.  The process is simple:

Dig a hole, drop in the garlic clove pointy side up, and bury it.  Mark it with a stick, so you remember it is there, then wait for the little shoots to appear.  Watch the shoots grow, and wait for the scrapes (the curly flower buds) to appear in the late spring - these taste amazing sauteed in butter.   Wait for the plants to die back and then harvest luscious garlic bulbs in the summer.  Dry, and store for use over the next year.  Don't forget to keep a few to plant again in the fall.

Great detailed article here http://www.westcoastseeds.com/how-to-grow/Herb-Seeds/Garlic/

Some of last year's garlic crop

New Pear Tree in QE Orchard Garden

On October 11 Roger Philips come to help members of Green School plant a new Comice Pear Tree in the Orchard Garden.  The Empire Apple tree had to be replaced, due to a fungal disease called canker.  

Roger Philips is a Master Gardener and fruit tree expert at Stewart Farm in Surrey http://www.surrey.ca/culture-recreation/2875.aspx, and he kindly donated his time, expertise and the pear tree to our garden.  Green School members learned about the importance of preparing the planting area with rich soil, untangling the roots, planting to the correct depth, and watering well.  Mr. Philips also showed us the basics of pruning, and will be back in the spring to help us prune all of the trees in the orchard.

Remove from pot

Loosen the roots

Water the roots

check planting depth

water thoroughly

Fall Planting for Spring Eating, Cover Crops


This week, after two clean up work parties, Catriona and the kids planted crops to overwinter for harvesting in the spring. Kale, chard, winter lettuce and peas, as well as some cover crops went into the garden boxes, which had been cleaned up, and topped off with fresh sea soil.

Planted box ready for winter

 

What is a cover crop? Cover crops are planted in the fall to protect the valuable soil from the elements over the winter. They also provide a green manure, enriching the soil in the spring when they are cut down, and either dug into the soil, or added to the compost pile to provide valuable nutrients. The can also be aesthetically pleasing - nicer to look at something green and growing, than bare black soil.  Cover crops used a lot on the coast include: Fall Rye, Buckwheat, Red Clover, Winter Peas, and Broad Beans - all are available from West Coast Seeds, as well as other local suppliers.



Cover Crops





 

Wednesday work parties

If you can, please come out on Wednesday 19th and 26th after school to help clean up the boxes and get ready for the classes to do some winter planting.

More posts soon...

Welcome to the new school year

Welcome back!  Huge thanks to everyone who helped maintain the gardens over the summer.

Harvest Festival

The school year wrapped up at QE Elementary with a fantastic harvest festival. Parent volunteers, classes and teachers baked bread, roasted potatoes, harvested greens, prepared salad, two types of hummus, blueberry muffins, and apple cobbler, and gathered in the courtyard to celebrate the years harvest.