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EarthBox Education: Growing an Indoor Garden |
This past winter, two non-profit organizations -- Green Thumbs Youth Project, and Gloucester Museum School -- teamed up with fifth grade students at the Milton L. Fuller School of Gloucester, MA for an indoor gardening project using EarthBoxes.
Twelve fifth grade classrooms each received an EarthBox, and planted it with the help of the Green Thumbs Youth Project. The focus of the project was to encourage hands-on experiential learning, especially in the area of science, as well as to help students understand where their food comes from, and how to develop a healthy relationship with it. Fifth grader Rosalee Heaney said, "I really liked planting the EarthBoxes, and it's fun to watch the plants grow." Derrick Rogers, another student, said, "I can't wait to eat the tomatoes." Kathleen Soares, Director of Green Thumbs, has been working with the students and their EarthBoxes. "It's great watching the students open their minds to a different kind of learning environment," she says. "This has been an excellent educational experience for me as well." Fuller School is closing in a few weeks, so the EarthBoxes will be moved to Beeman Elementary School, where the students can use them as part of their Science program in the fall.
The Gloucester Museum School Project Adventure Camp is a local non-profit day trip camp that's been serving the greater Cape Ann area in Massachusetts since 1978. They offer daily expeditions, taking campers into the remote and beautiful natural areas that Cape Ann offers, exploring the wonders of nature, undertaking the challenge of adventure, and generally venturing deep into the fundamental basics of life.
Green Thumbs Youth Project is a local non-profit organization working in partnership with schools to provide opportunities for experiential learning, while creating ecologically rich and diverse schoolyards and public spaces. The program allows youths to grow healthy organic food and learn about their local food production system through hands-on activities in the garden, community volunteer assignments, and interactive field trips to local farms. |
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We'd love to hear from you! Please email your photos and stories to [email protected]. |
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Greetings!
No doubt, many of you have planted climbing vegetables in your gardens this year; tomatoes, cucumbers, beans, peas, and similar plants have always been fresh garden favorites. Just remember, these crops are a lot like children, in that they need some support in order to achieve their maximum potential. If you haven't already staked your vine crops and they're preparing to climb, don't fret; it's not too late! When you do decide to stake, you say goodbye to awkward tomato cages and plant trellises. You can put your EarthBox climbing garden anywhere -- on the deck, in the yard, even in your house. Other advantages of keeping your plants off the ground is avoiding fruit rot and sunburn, as the fruit will be shaded by the foliage when held up. It's also easier to spray or dust them for insect and disease control, and ultimately makes them easier to harvest. We offer several different colors of EarthBox staking systems to integrate with our newly redesigned EarthBox growing containers; visit our website for more information. Even if you choose not to use the EarthBox staking system, we encourage you to use some kind of system to keep your veggies and other plants upright. Should you go the route of the "homegrown" structure, visit our Forum and see what kinds of staking systems our customers have prepared. Happy and healthy harvests to you! Sincerely,
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Fresh from the Forum
Tomatoes, Tomatoes Everywhere! |
Pretty soon, your EarthBox garden will be overflowing with delectable fruits and vegetables. Whatever will you do with all that produce? For some truly mouthwatering ideas, like Cold Tomato Soup, Bruschetta Bread and Tomato/Cream Cheese Salad, visit our Forum and check out the Recipes section. |
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Retailer of the Month
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We at EarthBox value our partnerships with our authorized EarthBox Gardening System retailers. There are nurseries and garden centers throughout the country that carry our systems; some even offer seminars and workshops on getting the most out of your EarthBox. This month we feature Sid's Greenhouse in Palo Hills, Illinois.
Bernice and Sid Schaafsma founded Sid's Greenhouse in 1961, originally as a fresh fruit and vegetable stand on the current Palos Hills site. Since then, the business has grown into a five-acre facility consisting of greenhouses, a garden center, a floral shop, a nursery, and a landscaping business. Sid's is proud of its distinction of being Chicagoland's Premier Garden Center, offering expert advice and service to its customers. Value added services include Sid's Garden Club, Sid's Reward Dollars, seminars and workshops. Check Sid's out online at http://www.sidsonline.com/Brix?pageID=1.
Sid's offers two convenient locations:
10926 Southwest Highway
Palos Hillls, IL 60465
708-974-4500
550 S. Naperville/Plainfield Road
Bolingbrook, IL 60490
630-904-1007 |
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From Our Customers
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"Popcorn doesn't hate me like lettuce does. It grows like weeds. In the never-ending test of being the coolest dad on the block, I decided to grow some popcorn. Kids love popcorn.
Well, I doubt that 16 ears of popcorn will make me the coolest dad on the block -- but two EarthBoxes and 32 ears of popcorn should put me over the top!
I thought I read that cornstalks need support from the wind. I've gotten pretty good at tying together bamboo sticks, like I did with Tinker Toys back when we were kids. Sort of like a cage around the corn.
I guess one problem is, the corn won't be ready by Father's Day, so I'll probably have to settle for another coffee mug or tie."
Keith
Raleigh, North Carolina |
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About EarthBox
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The patented EarthBox was developed by commercial farmers, and proven in the lab and on the farm. Our maintenance-free, award-winning, high-tech growing system controls soil conditions, eliminates guesswork, and more than doubles the yield of a conventional garden -- with less fertilizer, less water and virtually no effort. To find out more, visit www.earthbox.com. | |
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