The Garden Project - A Summary

The idea behind my project was to get students who spend extraordinary amounts of time indoors and on the computer, outside working on something with a real and visable result; then, to document the effects this work had on their indoor computerized studies.  I hoped that I would be able to obtain data that showed our students more productive and more invested in their school community after successfully working to provide food for the needy people in our community. 

            We plowed the ground last March and obtained a grant from BB&T, a local bank, to construct a shed and fill it full of tools for the students to use.  Myself and a few teachers and students worked throughout the summer to upkeep the garden and provide (some) vegetables for the food pantry.  It was a great learning experience and we started the school year ready for the fall planting.

            I realized in the summer that I needed help and from my classes in community involvement I decided to engage a community volunteer.  I enlisted a nearby community member to be our garden manager and she decided that the garden was too big and that we could get more productivity out of a better managed small space.  We re-plowed for the fall and have planted spinach.  We are focusing on a small area and just one crop. 

            We have a name, T-shirts, newspaper spotlights, grants, wiki links, blog, community involvement, and we are growing all the time.  

Choice Gets Involved

This week the Bridge group has weeded the garden meticulously.  We have discovered, as with many things in life, that a little weeding each day makes the work very easy.  We have been running the tiller in the large portion of the garden that we decided to save for Spring.  We are keeping the ground soft  and prepared for the Spring planting and having fun with a big machine at the same time.

About 12 students from the Choice program came to the garden for the first time this Thursday.  Most of them had never seen basic garden tools and it was a completely new experience.  Digging in the dirt is healthy and everybody has weeds in their lives that need to be taken out.  My favorite quote of the day was, "Are you having fun, Levitria?"  "I'm having fun every where I go, Mr. Rushing."

Popeye...Get excited! But maybe not too excited...

This week we took the time to plant about 10 rows of spinach.  Two out of five of the students who were with me generously offered there opinions that "this garden is going to fail".  I asked for their evidence and they cited that the ground was too dry.  A good observation.  Good thing we have a water hose!  Follow the poll action closely to find out if if the garden is successful this season.  60% of amateur gardeners think, "maybe!"

Less is More

The fall planting of the People's Garden is in full swing.  Today Joy Marlowe, her son Ross, a student named Aubrey, and I worked the earth into a garden ready state.  Joy has graciously volunteered to be our garden manager.  Her first decision has been made!  She kindly informed me that the garden is too big.  If we focus our efforts on a smaller area she believes we'll get more produce.  Sounds like a great metaphor for life to me.  So many things can be learned from a garden.  Aubrey learned today that starting a motor is easier after it's been running for a while...and math is easier when you do your homework every day.  I can't tell you what a relief it is to be working a smaller garden.

In my revived state, I typed up a form letter for Joy to "dig up" some extra supplies from local businesses.  We made a wish list to present to interested community members who may want to invest in our garden.  Go get 'em Joy!

                                             Judge a days work by how well you sleep!

Dirty Work

Today the Bridge class got dirty.  The students had their first taste of prepping the soil for planting.  They took turns running the cultivator, raking, building shelves, and organizing the shed...again.  We'll be back at it tomorrow at 8am if anyone wants to join us!

The Summer Garden

The summer garden was an awesome learning experience.  Many things grew:  my knowledge, relationships with students, weeds, a few vegetables...

I can't wait to get started with the fall planting.  Joy Marlowe will be joining our efforts to be our first community "manager"!

Tomorrow I will be taking some students down to the garden to explain the garden and it's purpose and to discuss our fall planting.

Here are some pictures from the summer garden fun.

Everybody loves the shed and tools donated by  BB&T Bank!

 This young man helped me on Saturday mornings throughout the entire summer!

Garden Blog 4/16/13

This past weekend: GeriAnne and Ed Carrales, Julie Farris,  Daniel and Tiffany Nichols, myself, Red (my four year old!),  Nick and Jennifer Helge moved and spread 12 yards of compost by hand!  Nick and Jennifer used their tractor to plow the compost once it was spread.  If you want some sun and exercise this is the way to do it!  Muchas gracias to all who helped.  The job was formidable at 9am, when Daniel and I were staring at the pile of compost and looking back at each other….but, then the help began trickling in and before you knew it we were finished for the day!

Friday will be our big planting day.  Jennifer Helge is bringing her class from Community High School in the morning.  Why Try will work before lunch.  BB&T is bringing 8 volunteers from 1-3.  Choice High School will being working in shifts during their afternoon block.  Mr. Thomas’ Biology class is scheduled for last period.

All our transplants will be delivered in the morning and I wouldn’t be surprised if all the planting gets done on Friday.  If not,  Saturday from 9am to 11am will be our second day for planting.  Hopefully between the two days we will have the garden in full swing.

Yesterday, I took my Why Try class down to the garden for the first time.  The life parallels for gardening are practically endless.  I look forward to spending more time with my classes growing vegetables and perspective!

The Plan - Roughly

After having meetings with Julie Farris of RISD and Daniel Nichols of BB&T we have agreed on a tentative plan.  Julie and Daniel have both been major sources of information, ideas and resources.  They are invaluable partners to our community garden.  I'm attaching our drafted plan.

You will notice that on weekdays I have not listed specific times.  During the weekday, Choice teachers (and BB&T volunteers) may have the freedom to take classes at the time of day that is most convenient to them.  For our Saturday work times we will work from 9-11am.  As always, please comment on anything that needs amending and I will do my best to clear it up.

Quest Community Garden   April 2013

Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
	1	2	3	4	5	6
7	8	9	10	11	12	13
						4 people needed from 9am -11 am to spread compost. Nick will arrive with tractor in the evening to till
14	15	16	17	18	19	20
		BB&T Volunteers + choice students will make rows, mounds and stone walk		BB&T Volunteers + choice students will make rows, mounds and stone walk	BB&T Volunteers + choice students will begin planting 12:05 – 12:45 DAEP Students	Choice Students + Community planting 9am – 11
21	22	23	24	25	26	27
	Choice students tend the garden 12:05 – 12:45 DAEP Students	Choice students tend the garden	Choice students tend the garden	Choice students tend the garden	Choice students tend the garden 12:05 – 12:45 DAEP Students
28	29 Choice students tend the garden	30 Choice students tend the garden
	12:05 – 12:45 DAEP Students