Spring Greetings Continued...

This week's garden star is:
--- RHUBARB! ---
Take a peek underneath the picture frames hanging in the cherry tree and you will see one of the most amazing signs that spring has arrived... It is a wonderful time for students to observe the growth stages of this strange perennial vegetable. Some stalks are bright red and nearly mature, while others are just beginning to come up from the ground. They look like white leathery turtle eggs coming out of the ground. Eventually each one splits open, revealing a large crinkled leaf that unfolds and begins to grow upwards. Come by to observe this strange vegetable emerge from its winter rest, and make room in your bellies for strawberry-rhubarb crisp in June! (Remember, Rhubarb stalks are edible but leaves are not)


------ Some key dates ------
Peabody Garden Drop-In: Tuesdays 3:00-4:30, starting April 29.

Garden Coordinator Availability: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday


------ Some spring activity ideas ------

Art:
*Decorate wind-damaged larch tree: make birdhouses, bird feeders, or other art to hang from our garden "gallery"
*Observe/sketch signs of spring

Science/Math:
*Analyze the garden soil (sand/silt/clay content)
*Check out the stages of compost... and identify compost critters
*Observe/discuss signs of spring and effects of winter
*Observe/hypothesize garden microclimates and habitats
*Chart soil, air, and greenhouse temperature throughout a day, week, season etc
*Calculate germination rate for seeds in the greenhouse
*Measure garden beds, map the garden
*Conduct an outdoor experiment

Language Arts/History/Social Science:
*Journaling activity
*Plan a historically-themed garden

Garden maintenance activities:
*Spread compost
*Rake mulch
*Clear beds
*Trim downed branches
*Sow seeds in the greenhouse or garden beds
*Divide/transplant perennials

Indoor activities:
*Make a set of sprouting jars, taste test a variety of sprouts
*Sow seeds, observe germination
*Dissect bean seeds
*Start a worm bin for compost

I look forward to meeting all of you this spring. If you would like help or support with any of the ideas above (or any other garden activities) please email me or find me in the garden.

-Daniel
dmacphee@citysprouts.org