Growing Week in my Primary School

[johnty greentoes]

This week is Growing Week - thanks those bright people at the Potato Council (the people who brought you chip week!)

If you have any ideas about to add to mine.

My class of 32 Year 5 & 6 children (i.e. 9 - 11 year olds) will already be involved in...

Planting a living willow sculpture/tunnel/play area with professional artist (this should be ace).
Baking bread in plant pots (I got the idea from Jamie Oliver - his ideas really work with children of this age), every child will have a midday meal of their own loaf on Friday.
We are also risking planting our first earlies in our lovely river silt soil in the school garden (Beverley, East Yorks).

Any other ideas gratefully received - especially if they back up the ones given here.

[OverWyreGrower]

Can you plant peas/beans in small pots?

Or really fragrant herbs for the classrooms (then you'll get something all year round)?

Strawberries or tomatoes in hanging baskets?

[madderbat]

Hi JT
Apologies for being late on this one, but how about some mustard and cress for their sandwiches on Friday? Might just about get some going in four days

[johnty greentoes]

Thanks OWG and Madderbat

[Mrs Dobby]

Hi JT, good luck with the growing stuff and the kids! Is it just a week long project, or is it somehting thats going to be going on longer term? If longer term, then perhaps some squash or pumpkins may be a viable idea?

BTW, Mr D's folks live in Beverley! e are usually over there a couple of times a year, whereabouts is your plot? Mr D's Dad used to do a little GYOing, and seems to be picking it back up with Mr D's enthusiasm! He's only a few years away from retiring, so we both have a feeling that he will end up with a plot to keep himself busy, hes a brickie, so is used to being outside all the time, and we know he is worried about retiring, lots of his peers who have retired havent lasted very long after giving up the hard work, and we know he is feeling worried about it!

[johnty greentoes]

BTW, Mr D's folks live in Beverley!

Hi Suzanne

I live, and dig, in Hull, but work in Bev.

I am totally familiar with a dad that doesn't want to or won't retire. MY dad is now 68 and desperate to keep on working. I've told him he can didg my plot and I'll keep him in tea and all the veg he can eat.

Next time you are up let me know. Maybe a pint or 3 in Nellies?

[madderbat]

BTW, Mr D's folks live in Beverley! e are usually over there a couple of times a year, whereabouts is your plot? Mr D's Dad used to do a little GYOing, and seems to be picking it back up with Mr D's enthusiasm! He's only a few years away from retiring, so we both have a feeling that he will end up with a plot to keep himself busy, hes a brickie, so is used to being outside all the time, and we know he is worried about retiring, lots of his peers who have retired havent lasted very long after giving up the hard work, and we know he is feeling worried about it!

Hi Suzanne,
I'm sure as long as he keeps 1) a sense of purpose, and 2) an interest in life he will be fine. I do think that somtimes folks give up when they retire rather than looking forward to the next stage they can't work out what they are meant to do so droop.

If he has an interest (ie a lottie) and a purpose (ie a lottie!) and friends (on the lottie) then all he will need is a shed!!
How about that - the answer to everything - an allotment! there's an old boy on our site who goes down twice a day, every day (we think it's just to get away from the wife) but he's even there on Christmas Day feeding the birds.
May be a bit excessive, but it works for him.

[johnty greentoes]

We are having a fantastic week building a living willow sculpture - I will get pics soon.

Every lotty should have a ling seating area.

[rustylady]

We are having a fantastic week building a living willow sculpture - I will get pics soon.

Every lotty should have a ling seating area.

They're fantastic - where I work we have one in the garden, nearly 2 years old now - looks a bit like an igloo with two entrance tunnels. The children are absolutely fascinated with it. I was in on the building - make sure you keep it well watered during it's first year so it roots properly - after that you will be kept busy tying and weaving in the new growth.

As to things for the children to grow, why not teach them about how seeds germinate by sowing some broad bean seeds. We used to do it by soaking the seeds in water until they plump up, then using clear plastic tumblers and kitchen roll. What you do is roll up the kitchen roll to fit inside the tumbler, placing the bean seed between the paper and the tumbler, putting enough water in the tumbler to keep the paper and the seed moist, put the whole thing in a warm place and wait. As the seed starts to germinate you can see exactly where the root and leaves come from, and the germinated seeds can also be potted up and grown on.

[smallblueplanet]

...thanks those bright people at the Potato Council (the people who brought you chip week!)....

Bugger I missed 'chip week'!

What did you do for that?

[Nicos]

I know this is really late for an idea- but how about showing them a few common weeds?? -You could explain about competition for nutrients etc etc...
May sound crazy, but I bet if set loose on a veg plot, they wouldn't know a weed from a veg seedling ( or a plant in their garden -come to think of it!!)
Bet there are plenty of common weeds in the school grounds!!( you could even pick a few from your garden in the morning - not that I presume your garden looks like mine!!!!

[madderbat]

...What you do is roll up the kitchen roll to fit inside the tumbler, placing the bean seed between the paper and the tumbler, putting enough water in the tumbler to keep the paper and the seed moist, put the whole thing in a warm place and wait. As the seed starts to germinate you can see exactly where the root and leaves come from, and the germinated seeds can also be potted up and grown on.

We used to do this with apple pips in jam jars. In my day it was blotting paper!

[johnty greentoes]

Bugger I missed 'chip week'!

What did you do for that?

Would you believe that I don't know a single school that took part in National Chip Week. Apparently the British Pig Blood Council are launching National Black Pudding Wednesday this year, but we won't be doing that one either.

Visit http://www.lovechips.co.uk/

[Hazel at the Hill]

Visit http://www.lovechips.co.uk/

....and here's me thinking that you were joking...................!

[johnty greentoes]

I know this is really late for an idea- but how about showing them a few common weeds?? -You could explain about competition for nutrients etc etc...
May sound crazy, but I bet if set loose on a veg plot, they wouldn't know a weed from a veg seedling ( or a plant in their garden -come to think of it!!)
Bet there are plenty of common weeds in the school grounds!!( you could even pick a few from your garden in the morning - not that I presume your garden looks like mine!!!!

Our school has a vegetable garden. Last year we organically grew courgettes, spuds, beans (all types), toms, carrots, herbs etc...etc... We have a gardening club and a very enthusiastic Irish headteacher who could dig for Ireland (I'll avoid stereotypes at this point!)