We have an exciting new program coming up at Supply Elementary School working with students in the K through 5 classes, and Charlie will need a lot of Master Gardeners to volunteer some time to make this a success.
The program will cover three topics and we will be working with students in two age groups: Kindergarten through 2nd grade and grades 3 through 5. A brief overview of the topics is:
Propagation, March 21 and 22: We will provide each classroom with containers with growing plants/seedlings, plus measuring devices for water and plant growth. The pots will have 3 types of soil – sand, clay and loam. Students will learn how to care for the plant and will keep charts until we return in April.
Soils, April 11 and 12: Review what students learn re: plant growth in the three different soil types. The program will involve what plants require for growth and why plants grow in certain environments and not in others, as well as how soils are amended to provide what plants need to grow. We will also ask the cafeteria staff to save plastic containers to use in each classroom to collect scarps or discarded fruits and vegetable from the tasting breaks; then put the scraps into a compost bin which we will provide the school.
Compost and Worm Bins: April 25 and 26. This will be an outside program. We do final plant measurements and will bring the worm bin so student can see and touch the worm and see how worms aid in the soil. Also, at this class we’ll give each student a plant to take home, probably a tomato plant.
Charlie is looking for volunteers to work on this project and others that may develop. If you want participate, let Charlie know.
