Late Fall 2015
School Garden Network
Late Fall 2015 Volume 6
Cornell Cooperative Extension Rockland County
School Garden Network
T
he School Garden Network (SGN) of Cornell Cooperative Extension Rockland County (CCE-RC) supports sustainable gardening, youth development and garden-based learning programs in Rockland County schools and provides a forum for exchanging information and resources.
T
he School Garden Network of Rockland CCE connects school garden educators with research-based resources and professional development to assist in promoting garden-based learning..
Upcoming Workshops at Rockland CCE: Winter Seed Sowing This workshop will teach you the hands-on method of winter sowing while exploring educational goals for your school garden.
I
Wednesday, December 2 4:00PM-6:00PM at CCE Rockland Fee: $15.00 Per Person $10.00 Per Person in a group*
B
Grandview Garden Club: practical tips from Master Gardener Volunteers
n this issue: Upcoming Workshops at CCE Rockland ● School Garden Spotlight: Chestnut Ridge Middle School ● Grant Opportunities for your School Garden ● Fall Vegetable Gardening ● Composting Education at Woodglen Elementary School
elow is a photo of Woodglen Elementary School students learning about Composting Education from a CCE-RC Master Gardener Volunteer. To learn more about our Composting Day at Woodglen Elementary School, go to page three. CCE-RC Volunteers will share their experience and advice from three years of working with children from Grandview Elementary School Garden. Wednesday, February 24th 4:00PM-6:00PM at CCE Rockland Fee: $15.00 Per Person $10.00 Per Person in a group*
To Register Contact Jennifer Strianese [email protected] 845-429-7085 x 117 *A group consists of two or more people from one school. Page 1
School Garden Spotlight:
Chestunt Ridge Middle School Special science education teacher Lauren Ackerman applied for a grant through Orange & Rockland Utilities to create a raised bed garden for her special education science classes. Upon receiving the funds, Lauren reached out to CCE-RC to ask for guidance on the creation of this “living laboratory” in one of the school’s courtyards. CCE-RC Community Horticulture Educator Annie Christian-Reuter met with Lauren and several other teachers to look at the site and discuss soil and water considerations, along with the best crops to grow during the school year. The garden will be installed this fall. The goal of the Sustainable Learning Gardens is to incorporate a kinesthetic, real-world experience for the special needs population, allowing them to see the entire cycle of planting, harvesting and potentially selling what they’ve grown to staff. Lauren has continued to build her garden-based education knowledge by attending trainings such as Agricultural Literacy in the Classroom at Stone Barns Center this past summer, where she is pictured above with Master Gardener Volunteer Christina Mandara.
Grant Opportunities for School Gardens There are a number of school grants with upcoming deadlines that could be an opportunity for your school (see below). If needed, Rockland CCE can serve as a sponsor for your grant. Please contact Anne Christian-Reuter with your request at [email protected]. Multiple grant opportunities http://www.gardenabcs.com/grants.html Deadline December 4, 2015 http://www.annies.com/giving-back/school-gardens/grants-for-gardens/ grant-application Deadline December 1, 2015 http://grants.kidsgardening.org/2016-youth-garden-grant Deadline January 1, 2016 http://www.agclassroom.org/teacher/tscgrant.htm Deadline February 12, 2016 http://www.toolboxforeducation.com/ Cornell Cooperative Extension is an employer and educator recognized for valuing AA/EEO, Protected Veterans, and Individuals with Disabilities and provides equal program and employment opportunities Please contact the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Rockland County office if you have any special needs.
Page 2
Fall Vegetable Gardening Often it seems that you just get the school garden planted and it is time for school to end, but school gardens are not limited to the spring season. Crops grown over the summer such as pumpkins, potatoes, kale, collards, and many other longer growing produce can be harvested with the children once school begins. Also a fall garden can be started and harvested throughout the fall season. There are a number of vegetables that can be grown from seed or transplanted in July and August for harvest through November or later. Of course, this does require that you have volunteers to tend these crops over the summer; make sure to build that into your management plan. It is best to select vegetables that have a short duration to maturity. Successive seeding of crops such as lettuce and spinach allows a steady supply of vegetables for harvesting with the children. Certain crops such as garlic and onions can be planted in late September-mid October for harvest in the spring. For further information on planting times, crops and how to prevent insects and diseases, please see http:// rocklandcce.org/resources/starting-a-fall-vegetable-garden.
Composting Education at Woodglen Elementary School CCE volunteers and staff piloted a composting program with the Rockland County Solid Waste Management Authority for kindergartners at Woodglen Elementary in New City. The program includes a hands-on composting building activity, games and a worm demonstration. Apparently there was great interest in the topic among the students, as the teacher asked that they be sent to school with a bag of food scraps for their compost bin outside the classroom. To learn more about free composting education sessions for K and 1st graders at your school, please contact Annie Christian-Reuter at [email protected] or 845-429-7085 x108.
For more information on the School Garden Network Contact: Annie Christian-Reuter Community Horticulture Educator (845) 429-7085 x108 [email protected]
Horticulture Lab Hours: November - March: Monday – Thursday 9:00am – Noon
Page 3
Late Fall 2015 Volume 6
Cornell Cooperative Extension Rockland County
School Garden Network
T
he School Garden Network (SGN) of Cornell Cooperative Extension Rockland County (CCE-RC) supports sustainable gardening, youth development and garden-based learning programs in Rockland County schools and provides a forum for exchanging information and resources.
T
he School Garden Network of Rockland CCE connects school garden educators with research-based resources and professional development to assist in promoting garden-based learning..
Upcoming Workshops at Rockland CCE: Winter Seed Sowing This workshop will teach you the hands-on method of winter sowing while exploring educational goals for your school garden.
I
Wednesday, December 2 4:00PM-6:00PM at CCE Rockland Fee: $15.00 Per Person $10.00 Per Person in a group*
B
Grandview Garden Club: practical tips from Master Gardener Volunteers
n this issue: Upcoming Workshops at CCE Rockland ● School Garden Spotlight: Chestnut Ridge Middle School ● Grant Opportunities for your School Garden ● Fall Vegetable Gardening ● Composting Education at Woodglen Elementary School
elow is a photo of Woodglen Elementary School students learning about Composting Education from a CCE-RC Master Gardener Volunteer. To learn more about our Composting Day at Woodglen Elementary School, go to page three. CCE-RC Volunteers will share their experience and advice from three years of working with children from Grandview Elementary School Garden. Wednesday, February 24th 4:00PM-6:00PM at CCE Rockland Fee: $15.00 Per Person $10.00 Per Person in a group*
To Register Contact Jennifer Strianese [email protected] 845-429-7085 x 117 *A group consists of two or more people from one school. Page 1
School Garden Spotlight:
Chestunt Ridge Middle School Special science education teacher Lauren Ackerman applied for a grant through Orange & Rockland Utilities to create a raised bed garden for her special education science classes. Upon receiving the funds, Lauren reached out to CCE-RC to ask for guidance on the creation of this “living laboratory” in one of the school’s courtyards. CCE-RC Community Horticulture Educator Annie Christian-Reuter met with Lauren and several other teachers to look at the site and discuss soil and water considerations, along with the best crops to grow during the school year. The garden will be installed this fall. The goal of the Sustainable Learning Gardens is to incorporate a kinesthetic, real-world experience for the special needs population, allowing them to see the entire cycle of planting, harvesting and potentially selling what they’ve grown to staff. Lauren has continued to build her garden-based education knowledge by attending trainings such as Agricultural Literacy in the Classroom at Stone Barns Center this past summer, where she is pictured above with Master Gardener Volunteer Christina Mandara.
Grant Opportunities for School Gardens There are a number of school grants with upcoming deadlines that could be an opportunity for your school (see below). If needed, Rockland CCE can serve as a sponsor for your grant. Please contact Anne Christian-Reuter with your request at [email protected]. Multiple grant opportunities http://www.gardenabcs.com/grants.html Deadline December 4, 2015 http://www.annies.com/giving-back/school-gardens/grants-for-gardens/ grant-application Deadline December 1, 2015 http://grants.kidsgardening.org/2016-youth-garden-grant Deadline January 1, 2016 http://www.agclassroom.org/teacher/tscgrant.htm Deadline February 12, 2016 http://www.toolboxforeducation.com/ Cornell Cooperative Extension is an employer and educator recognized for valuing AA/EEO, Protected Veterans, and Individuals with Disabilities and provides equal program and employment opportunities Please contact the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Rockland County office if you have any special needs.
Page 2
Fall Vegetable Gardening Often it seems that you just get the school garden planted and it is time for school to end, but school gardens are not limited to the spring season. Crops grown over the summer such as pumpkins, potatoes, kale, collards, and many other longer growing produce can be harvested with the children once school begins. Also a fall garden can be started and harvested throughout the fall season. There are a number of vegetables that can be grown from seed or transplanted in July and August for harvest through November or later. Of course, this does require that you have volunteers to tend these crops over the summer; make sure to build that into your management plan. It is best to select vegetables that have a short duration to maturity. Successive seeding of crops such as lettuce and spinach allows a steady supply of vegetables for harvesting with the children. Certain crops such as garlic and onions can be planted in late September-mid October for harvest in the spring. For further information on planting times, crops and how to prevent insects and diseases, please see http:// rocklandcce.org/resources/starting-a-fall-vegetable-garden.
Composting Education at Woodglen Elementary School CCE volunteers and staff piloted a composting program with the Rockland County Solid Waste Management Authority for kindergartners at Woodglen Elementary in New City. The program includes a hands-on composting building activity, games and a worm demonstration. Apparently there was great interest in the topic among the students, as the teacher asked that they be sent to school with a bag of food scraps for their compost bin outside the classroom. To learn more about free composting education sessions for K and 1st graders at your school, please contact Annie Christian-Reuter at [email protected] or 845-429-7085 x108.
For more information on the School Garden Network Contact: Annie Christian-Reuter Community Horticulture Educator (845) 429-7085 x108 [email protected]
Horticulture Lab Hours: November - March: Monday – Thursday 9:00am – Noon
Page 3
