Today Olivia (kindergarten) and Paige (grade 2) recorded that the air temperature was 52° with clouds and a cold wind. We started Big Max and Sugar Pie Pumpkin, Watermelon and Cherry Tomato seeds in trays and the children labelled them. These will begin their growth in Dave DeWitt’s greenhouse. Francie and Anna showed the kids how to pick the leaves from last year’s spinach and pull the stems to put into the compost. The untasted basket of spinach was brought to the Truro Central School for Friday’s lunch.

Quote of the day: ” I LOVE this stuff!” (spinach)

• start pumpkin, watermelon and tomato seeds in trays
• harvest spinach and compost remaining stems
• prep bed for planting

To grow a giant pumpkin for next year’s Truro Ag Fair, we decided to clear a patch behind the garden. First all the weeds needed to be pulled, piled up and then discarded. The children worked hard and took turns with hand cultivators and rakes to loosen the dirt and the weeds. Some worms were found and tossed into the garden.

• clear area using hand cultivators and rakes
• discard weeds in compost area
• add any worms to garden

Today the children picked tomatoes and composted the split ones. They pulled some large carrots and each child took one home. We found some worms and Francie asked “what’s a worm a sign of?” The answer is “a healthy garden.” Old corn stalks were pulled and composted. A root ball was dug around the marigold plant which was transplanted at the end of the second bed and the west end soil was tilled and evened out so no pooling could occur. Because of its tolerance for cool soil, more spinach was planted there with 9 or 10 seeds per foot and a 1/2″ deep. The soil was tamped down, but not too hard and lightly watered. Carrots and tomatoes were delivered to the Truro Central School.

• harvest tomatoes and carrots
• compost split tomatoes and withered corn
• dig a root ball around marigolds to transplant
• till and even out soil
• plant spinach seeds in three rows with 9-10 seeds per foot and 1/2″ deep
• deliver harvest to local school

By rotating groups, each child could work at a task. First the remaining three sunflowers were harvested by carefully loosening the soil around the roots and then pulled out and shaken into the bed. This bed, closest to the library, was cleared and prepared for planting spinach. We measured and recorded the final heights of the sunflowers with 102″ being the tallest! Tomatoes and basil were harvested and later brought to the Truro Central School. Each child took home a goody bag of oregano.

• uproot sunflowers; shake off soil; measure height; compost roots and stems; save seeds
• harvest tomatoes and basil
• clear and prepare bed for planting spinach according to packet directions
• lightly water seeds

The 4-H table looked inviting at the Truro Agricultural Fair with the children’s wool banner hanging next to it. Special thanks to Janice Redman for leading the project and Nancy Spillane for backing the banner with sturdy canvas.

Three days before the Truro Ag Fair, we picked marigolds, nasturtiums and their leaves to make bouquets and we harvested beans, potatoes, carrots, tomatoes and sage to display at the 4-H table there. We measured the sunflowers and chose the four tallest ones to enter into the “tallest sunflower” contest. Our helpful volunteers, Jill, Lou, Jack and Polly assisted in preparing for the big day. Later Jack brought a hedge trimmer to cut the stalks close to the soil.

• select flowers and leaves to make bouquets
• harvest potatoes and allow to air dry
• harvest ripe beans, carrots, tomatoes and sage
• measure and record final sunflower heights
• cut sunflowers at base of stem
• Remove root balls, shake off dirt and add to compost

Everyone was able to pick a tomato to take home to their family. The children watered, drew pictures for the Truro Ag Fair and ate some Mad Vanilla Bean ice cream donated by Savory and Sweet Escape in Truro.

More that twenty individuals worked to make this years book and bake sale a success. We were lucky that the rain held off the morning of the sale. We made $2800 dollars that will be used for the benefit of our wonderful library.

Thanks to all  who gave so generously of their time.

After making a plan we measured the six sunflowers. Sunflower #2 grew 19″ in the last two weeks from 72″ to 91″. Wow! We also chose the biggest cucumber to enter into the Truro Ag. Fair Harvest Contest. We picked more ripe tomatoes, cucumbers, three yellow carrots along with some basil, thyme and sage to add yummy flavors. We used cucumber skins on our faces and two of the kids relaxed with cucumber slices. Observation pages focused on the biggest cucumber and picking a carrot and water was added to the compost.

• measure and record sunflower height
• choose vegetables for the Truro Ag. Fair Harvest Contest
• harvest cucumbers, tomatoes and herbs
• experiment with cucumbers to cool skin
• fill out observation page
• water compost

With a generous donation of a variety of herbs from Bayberry Gardens, the children were able to supplement the garden with: oregano, Thai basil, Aussie Sweetie basil, pineapple sage, thyme and rosemary. The children wrote 19 labels and journalled their observations. The beds were weeded and more cucumbers and tomatoes were harvested and eaten.

More favorite things. “I like:
picking carrots and tomatoes.”
all the colors from the garden.”
the cucumbers – they taste really good.”
the nasturtium flowers.”
strawberries.”

• plant herbs
• weed
• make labels
• journal