Update

By: Dana Schultheis

After we received some supplies, we got extremely busy in the greenhouse hence the lack of posts. The first thing we got were the seeds. We ordered forty packets of leaf lettuce among other vegetables and herbs as well as a few flowers including lavender. We planted in doors to get as many plants sprouted as quickly as we could before the Spring weather really kicked off. 

Overtime, things became greener and greener. 

We also took on individual projects of our own. 

We gathered stones, grass and other objects from the pond at Oakcrest and created mini habitats. For about two weeks we observed them change and grow and recorded what we saw in notebooks. During the winter months, they seemed to be decaying but once it got warmer they flourished with life. 

The Aquaponics fish tanks we ordered came in as well! We bought four beta fish; two males and two females. We set up the tanks within days. However, unfortunately, three of the four fish died of the ick. In response, I took the last fish home to ensure she got the care she needed in order to live a healthy life. We concluded that keeping her at school would be unproductive being that none of us were able to come in on holidays, breaks or weekends. So far she has thrived in her new environment and has even grown a few centimeters! We planted bean sprouts and wheat grass on top of the tanks. The water along with the fish's bacteria feeds the plants and helps them grow. They have grown about ten inches in only a month. 

Recently, since the whether has been warmer, we've begun trans-planting some of the plants outside. We built our garden beds. They are bordered by wood planks and floored with recycled cardboard. 

While we began moving the plants outside in their indoor plastic containers, we also received the soil we need to plant them in the garden beds without the containers.

We began planting yesterday, May third, using our new soil. 

In addition to carrying out our original plans, the outdoor garden beds, we have recently taken on other projects to promote environmental sustainability in our school and our community. Last Friday our school celebrated Earth Day with it's annual day of earth-friendly environment-related games. We set up our own table where students had the opportunity to "paint their pallet". Students painted fruits, vegetables, plants, or anything environment related on paper plates which we made into a collage and hung up outside our classroom door the following day.

Also, we found old light frames while walking around Oakcrest one day and decided that we could recycle them into garden beds and implement them into our outdoor garden. 

Our leaf lettuce has grown very quickly, so we brought some to the Oakcrest culinary class and let them taste it to show them the difference between locally grown organic lettuce and store-bought lettuce. 

Now, we're just waiting for the weather to clear up to get back to work! (: