The rain held off on Thursday afternoon, but it definitely felt like fall, and ‘Mr. Mark’ and the students and staff at NC were able to get a lot of good fall gardening in. Fourth and fifth graders learned that fall is both a time for cleaning out and putting a garden to rest; but also planting some crops.

Several of the students cut the runners from the lush strawberry beds, which have spread prolifically and are promising great eating next spring.

Other students cleaned out the beds and earth boxes whose plants had been harvested or gone to seed. One bed was planted with garlic. All the earth boxes were refreshed and reseeded with lettuce and radishes. These boxes will go back to elementary schools throughout the district, for students to sample organic greens this fall.

These pictures give a good sense of the work we did.  Mr. Melchor, Jo-an Rechtin and her new intern, Lindsay, and Mrs. Ahola were all helping the students and teachers on this fine fall day.

Spinach was planted in this bed, after we fertilized it with fish emulsion and potash.

Earth boxes were cleaned out and refilled; this one is being taken to be seeded with lettuce.

Soil from hanging baskets was remixed and added to beds and earth boxes.

This is a runner put out by a strawberry plant. They spread by sending out these runners which then root and start a new plant, as you can see here.

This student is carefully cutting off runners so the main plant can conserve energy and make more berries.