Preparing the Beds

With some of our produce needing to be planted very soon, we had to prepare the raised beds and planters.

We discussed the importance of having good soil for the plants to grow, and the best way to get rid of weeds! Some of us used trowels but we soon realised that our hands were also a tool which was equally as effective.

The hands of a hard working gardener!

During weeding, we came across a few discoveries, including seed pods, worms, centipedes, mini potatoes and Nima discovered the gardener's enemy: slugs!
We carefully relocated the slug as we didn't want it to eventually eat our produce.

After weeding the raised beds and the potato planter pots, we added this to our compost heap. 

 

At the moment we are using some of the fruit remains from Key Stage 1 as well as paper shredding to make our compost.
When creating compost it is important to have a mixture of 'greens' and 'browns'. If you'd like to know a little more, the picture below is a helpful guide.

Labelling...

With so much produce to be grown, organisation is key.

Yesterday we focused on creating labels for our our planters, raised beds and poly tunnel so that everybody knows what is being grown and where.

The list was very long; runner beans, potatoes, cauliflower, tomatoes, strawberries, carrots, patty pan, garlic, fennel - to name a few!

We worked hard to draw pictures to help others identify the herbs/fruit/vegetables as they are growing.

After half term we'll be preparing the beds and the planters and putting our signs in the correct place.

 

Don't forget your wellies!

Planning!

Last week we worked hard using iPads and growing calendars to complete growing planners.

This year, each year group has decided what they would like to grow and produce for our Farmer's Market. But our Food and Farming Club have also had lots of brilliant ideas.

They would like to grow the food and create...

• Fruit Pies
• Vegetable Curry
• Carrot and Courgette Muffins
• Chilli Dip
• Cress Heads/Herb Heads
• Carrot Cake

Sounds great hey?! But a lot of work will need to be done first. The children completed growing planners where they had to think about their product and decide:

What are you growing?
Where will it be planted?
When will it be planted?
When will it be harvested?

The focus was amazing, with children in each group from Year 3 to Year 6, we completed each planner.

Check out the photos below;

 

We also went outside to look at our raised beds, poly tunnel and apple trees and discuss where we would plant certain produce.

 

We can't wait to get out there and start planting!