A dedicated group of gardening parents assembled to define next steps for Aveson's learning garden. Keep reading for a front row seat at tonight's meeting...The Garden Team's current priorities are defined, in order:
A) Purchase and assemble raised beds.
B) Install irrigation.
C) Coordinate delivery of soil and compost.
D) Start seeds in classrooms.
E) Supply garden baskets to all K-2 teachers.
F) Supply 5 gallon composting buckets to all 3-5 teachers
G) Confirm cost associated with Common Vision Tree Fruit Tour and submit or postpone application.
A) Raised Beds
After much research and discussion, Orcaboard's Raised Garden Bed Kit was selected as a healthy alternative to not-so-sustainable redwood, toxic treated wood, and pricey Trex.
Orcaboard is made from recycled plastic milk containers and is designed to snap together for easy, child-friendly assembly. The product comes with a 50 year warranty and is recommended by Organic Gardening.
From the website www.orcaboard.com
Orcaboard™ Raised Bed Garden Kits are maintenance-free, non-toxic, guaranteed for 50 years, and look great. The tongue and groove boards are pre-cut and pre-notched for easy assembly. Elizabeth will coordinate the delivery of the beds.
B) Irrigation
Phil, our esteemed Plant Manager, is building a materials list based on MG Jill's design. Matt will use Phil's list to source and price the project.
Phil will install irrigation once beds are assembled and placed.
C) Soil & Compost
Chris is donating a load of mulch and will coordinate the delivery of soil from our Sunland resource. He will also oversee the harmonious mixing of compost and soil for transfer to the beds.
D) Seeds
Carol is developing Aveson's First Annual Seed Drive - the first gardening event of the season. Students will collect and start seeds in their classrooms for later transfer to the garden. MG Jill has donated nearly $300 in delicious seed packs from Renee's Garden.
E) K-2
The Gardening Team would like to outfit each K-2 teacher with an extra large Gardening Basket containing the following:
10 Hand Trowels - adult sized
20 Magnifying Glasses (10x magnification)
5 Fingernail brushes
2 Laminated Guides to Insects
Age Appropriate Gardening Books
visit www.acornnaturalists.com/ educational supplies.
We warmly invite Aveson's parent community to donate basket items. Please contact Elizabeth to coordinate.
F) 3-5
3-5 classrooms will be outfitted with 5 gallon plastic buckets to be used for compost collection on select composting days.
G)Common Vision
If the costs associated with hosting Common Vision during their upcoming Fruit Tree Tour are within our means, Beth will complete and submit our application.
NEXT
In our next phase of development, we would like to outfit the 6-7th grade classrooms with worm bins and material related to companion planting. Think three sisters. Or nasturtium loves citrus.
For upper grades, we would like to engage them in mycorestoration using burlap or plastic bag mushroom farms and the design and construction of a green house.
PREDICTED ALLOCATION of FUNDS
3000 Raised beds
300 Weed Mesh
350 Soil
350 Gazebo
FLOTSAM & JETSAM
Bulb Fundraiser
Connect with Chris's friend, longtime Crenshaw High School gardening teacher, Adonaja to discuss curriculum.
Establish a gardening library.
Engage Master Gardeners in volunteer teaching rotation.
Check out www.ipm.ucdavis.edu for 6-9 curriculum ideas.
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