Northgate School Garden

After a dismal 2022 Spring, the students had little to show for their strong efforts.  We had little more than pea pods after planting six early/short season vegetables including lettuce and spinach.  The large four raised-bed area sandwiched between two buildings leaves no room for error.  That said, gardening remains of high interest to kids and the takeaways are awesome:  using tools; seeding; thinning; watering; and harvesting.

This year we’ve amended the soil and look forward to planting the usual veggies around April 1. We’re still in a tight window for sunlight, maybe 3 to 4 hours.  It was suggested by a master gardener that when sprouts appear we cover beds with clear plastic.  Whatever the outcome, we’ll have our annual “salad party” at end of year.  With the James Baldwin building opening fall 2023, 2nd graders will have a new dedicated garden space.
The winter science unit for 2nd grade asks the question, “How can we make a workable glue?”  Students call each other glue scientists or glue engineers.  Ingredients for testing include kitchen staples baking powder, salt, and flour among others added to water.  You can imagine  8-year-olds stirring, taking notes, testing overnight, retesting.  
For both gardening and glue making in the educational sense, it’s the process not the product.
Randy Harkness
Liaison to Northgate School

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