Class Concept Draft #1

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From Dirt to Dinner:

An Exploration of Food, Science and the Natural Rhythms of the Kitchen Garden

Join us for a garden-centered, hands-on program learning about food, seasons, life cycles, cooking and nutrition.

Dirt to Dinner will encourage participants to explore full food systems (“seed-to-table”) through both individual and group projects such as compost chemistry and physics, bee gardening, botany trails, preparing healthy meals for families affected by illness, nature journaling, heirloom seed saving, food preservation and creative projects of the participant’s own design. 

The goals of the program include allowing participants to

·         Increase understanding of ecological principles

·         Develop an appreciation for where food comes from and how it is grown

·         Experience growing, preparing, eating and sharing healthy, sustainably-raised food

·         Integrate ways to enjoy healthy, sustainable living

·         Make smart choices about food and resources

 

Group Size       ~6-10 kids with 2-4 adult volunteers

Meeting in Santa Clara near 280 and Lawrence Expressway

10 weekly garden meetings, February thru April, along with three or four related field trips (Soil Farm, UC Berkeley Urban Bee Gardens, Ceres Project, Blue House Farm.)

Input and suggestions are welcome!

What Wintered Over from 2008 into 2009

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kaleRussian Red Kale did well in a not very sunny spot in the raised beds through rain, cold, hail, frost and crazy dogs running through the beds.  It stores well and is great in soups.

Utah something Celery did wonderfully well.  I picked it from the outside in and used it all winter long.  It wasn’t bothered by anything and has wonderful spring-like color in the garden in a low sun area.

White onions have been growing since Fall.  The tops aren’t pretty since the frost, but they are growing some new green stems that seem more sturdy.  Who knows?  Maybe the tops always die down when the weather gets severe?  We’ll have to see how they do next year.  It’s also time to get more onions in so they are well established as the day lengthens.

Beets would not come up for love or money this Fall.  I planted them several times and got nothing but weeds.  Will try these with the Spring crew and see how that goes.  Maybe in Jiffy pots so they can sprout inside and then go into the garden???

Several varieties of carrots did well all Fall and Winter long.  They are tough to get started.  I have small patches of them trying to get going so we have more for Spring.  I could have easily used twice what we planted, maybe more.  But they were fun to have. I especially liked the ball type variety but the seed packet is now lost.

Collards were not as hardy as the kale, but they made it through and we like the taste better than the kale.  Could have used more of these guys, espcially since the chard did not make it through the winter well.  It was bug riddled and yellowing by October.

The artichokes you couldn’t kill with a shovel.  They are already back and looking great.  I suspect they would grow in cement mix if you let them.

Peas had a very tough winter.  The second they sprouted something came and ate all their leaves off over and over.  We started some right after the new year and they seem to be doing better so far.  I’ll protect this batch as seedlings better and see how we do.  I might have to go back to buying starts for these guys.

Tossing Ideas in the Air to See What Lands

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What is going to work to share the garden space?  What are the goals of this project?

  • Raise healthy food that will be used for cooking, preserving, sharing and eating.
  • Learn and understand what the natural processes around growing food are.
  • Help urban bees by creating a small haven and possible nesting site.
  • Make use of the land resources around the house that are now essentially empty.
  • Bring people together around the space and the projects.
  • Provide welcoming outdoor space for independent projects kids want to do.

What are the current resources available?

  • Aprox. 100 square feet of raised beds under cultivation.
  • Lots of garden books and materials around the house.
  • A desire to grow more food and eat more seasonally and locally.
  • Smart bunch of homeschoolers with some energy.
  • Smart Nature instructor with great energy and experience with Life Lab, etc.
  • Life Lab
  • San Diego Master Gardeners
  • California School Garden Network