kids, in between monthly visits. The adults are learning, too.
The containers are watered and then the seeds are sown. We teach basic gardening techniques at this time, including how to read a seed packet, sowing thinly, covering seeds lightly with soil— or not covering them— and more. We grow mostly herbs and greens; in spring, we start flowers and vegetables for the kids to take home.
Bella enjoys the harvest at Fairview Elementary.
STUDENTS WITH NEEDS
Students are enrolled in the program because they come from low-income families and are in Title I schools. The kids are in grades K-8. Pupils may be American Indian / Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander or Asian, African American, or Hispanic / Latino, and may have limited English, special needs, are on free or reduced school lunch or may be homeless. They are not going home to a white picket fence and a garden plot.
My personal goal is to have kids be successful with growing plants, and to convince them they can grow food at home. I believe that this gives them some control in their lives, by caring for living plants. As we created this growing program, it has been a learning process. There is as much to learn from mistakes as successes. Three years into a five-year grant, we have helped install raised bed gardens at two elementary schools and have inspired another school to put in a garden on school grounds. These have become community gardens, since our frost-free growing season is basically May 8 to September 23, totaling 138 days. Currently we are serving nearly 800 students in this program.
GWA member Patrick Ryan is the education specialist for the Alaska Botanical Garden, a Junior Master Gardener specialist, and he serves on the boards for the Alaska Community Forest Council and Alaska Agriculture in the Classroom.
HOTOFF the press
Allan Armitage Of Naked Ladies and Forget-Me-Nots: The Stories Behind the Common Name of Our Favorite Plants Self-published via Ingram 244 pages, $ 20 Published March 2017
Award-winning author and plantsman Allan Armitage tells the stories behind the common names of some of our favorite and lesser-known plants. From Hooker’ s Lips to Hairy Balls, Voodoo Lilies and Gas Plant, this book of laugh-out-loud yarns is required reading for every plant enthusiast.
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Carol Michel Potted and Pruned: Living a Gardening Life Gardenangelist Books 144 pages, $ 14.99( paperback); $ 24.99( hard cover) Published March 1, 2017
“ Y’ all, Carol Michel is the Erma Bombeck of gardening,” noted GWA member Barbara Wise in her advance praise for Potted and Pruned. Michel, author of the award-winning blog, May Dreams Gardens, has penned a delightful book of gardening stories recounting her years speed weeding, scolding plants for their poor manners, experiencing the magic of a clover lawn, searching for elusive“ rare in cultivation” plants, narrowly avoiding tussles in the garden center, formally evicting drought from her garden and offering advice for those new to gardening.
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Barbara Pleasant Homegrown Pantry Storey Publishing 336 pages, $ 19.95 paperback To be published May 2017
Homegrown Pantry is a complete guide to planning a garden that produces the best varieties and the right amounts to stock the pantry and root cellar for year-round eating. By showing readers how to hone their crop lists and kitchen skills, Homegrown Pantry picks up where basic food gardening books leave off. The 55 plant profiles highlight the best varieties of vegetables, fruits and herbs to grow for storage and includes tips and tricks for preserving each crop the best way possible— whether cold storage, freezing, drying, canning or fermenting.
More than 60 GWA members gathered for a Region VI Connect meeting in February in conjunction with the Northwest Flower & Garden Show in Seattle. A special thanks for the donation of the room and bar set-up goes to Barry Bartlett, the show’ s public relations representative, and Jeff Swenson, show manager.
PHOTO COURTESY MARY-KATE MACKEY
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