By Kate Garland, Horticultural Professional, University of Maine Cooperative Extension, katherine.garland@maine.edu

Photo by Tracy O'Connell

This article is the first in a series that will highlight some of the diverse and exciting school gardening programs that are happening throughout our state. We're starting by profiling a new garden: three 8'x10' raised beds constructed this spring behind Leonard Middle School in Old Town. School Counselor Tracey O'Connell and Art Teacher Adele Drake took the lead on this project and have kindly shared some reflections on their first year.

What inspired you to have a garden at your school?

Adele: "We were inspired by our own love of gardening. We enjoy the time we spend in the garden and wanted students to have the experience of working in the garden."

Tracey: "Students were really interested in supporting the community and learning more about good food."

How have students been involved?

Tracey: "Students have been involved from the beginning. They planned, planted, filled the raised beds, shoveled manure and compost, and now are harvesting. Mrs. Drake . . . integrated a lot of ideas into her art class and the students from her art classes helped plan the garden. We worked all winter on various projects . . . recycled garden art, bee friendly zones with a bee keeper . . . Our 8th grade geometry students are going to try to help [write a grant] this year."

Adele: "The students have been involved in every aspect . . . including writing grants and presenting what they have accomplished to the school community."

What has been your biggest success?

Tracey: "The garden has become a place of refuge and learning. Students take walks to the garden to de-stress, observe what is happening with the weather and plants, and pick produce."

Adele: "Our biggest success has been receiving a grant to build an Earth loom in the garden. Last spring, we made the 3 raised beds and installed the loom all in the same week. Today was wonderful, as we all tasted the newly harvested carrots and delivered vegetables to the lunchroom to be used for the school lunches."

At least 125 zucchini were harvested this summer and fall, many of which were used in their summer food program. Both teachers shared the success of having community partner support. For example, a University of Maine professor brought his class and his own family over to help prepare and plant the gardens and a FoodCorps Service Member provided technical support. Community members also donated seedlings and a local nursery donated loam.

What has been your biggest challenge?  

Large and small pests such as deer, Japanese beetles, and possibly a bear have provided many challenges.

Adele: "We have been analyzing the scat, which has been fun for the kids. The deer demolished the green beans, ate big bites out of the cucumbers, totally denuded the tomatoes and even spit them in the field. [Overall], the biggest challenge is finding the time to do everything that needs to be done."

What do you see the garden looking like in 3 years? What about 10 years?  

Tracey: "The students would like to see a greenhouse, and better protection from the wild life."

Adele: "I see the garden being the perfect balance between form and function. There will be a greenhouse, garden furniture, a garden shed, and plenty of works of art (mosaic tiles, bird baths, and fencing with an artistic element to its design)."

If you were to give one piece of advice to someone starting a school garden, what would it be?  

Tracey: "Adele and I both have a lot of school and community support. Our school nurse and several teachers were instrumental in helping us get going. The biggest setback was finances and we know financial backing is critical. There are lots of resources that are exceptional at the Cooperative Extension . . . we have no budget, so our advice would be to have a good grant writer."

Adele: "Jump right in and do what ever you can. Don't feel overwhelmed; just take the small steps necessary to get things started."

Is there anything else you'd like to share?   

Adele: "A garden is an outdoor classroom with all kinds of unexpected and fascinating occurrences."

Tracey: "This has been a wonderful experience. We are sharing our harvest with the school community. Experts have come in and given students support and shared knowledge from bees to bugs in the garden. We are getting ready to prepare for winter and plant garlic again."

Thank you to Tracey and Adele for taking the time to share your project. Fall is an excellent time to start a school garden. Here are some quick tips:

1. Gather allies within your school (other teachers, food service staff, custodians, administration, support staff, parents, and youth). Find out how deeply people want to be involved. Do they want to help out over the summer?
2. Ask your group "what will success look like?" This will help clarify the purpose of the garden. School garden goals can include (but are not limited to): growing food for the cafeteria, science demonstrations, beautification, team building, service learning, physical activity, and more.
3. Assess your site. Is there easy access to water? How many hours of sunlight does the site receive over the course of the day? Do you have good soil (have your soil tested)? Is there a known pest problem (deer, groundhogs, etc.)?
4. Make a plan for how you will address pest problems in the garden. Know the laws regarding pesticide use on school grounds. There are many non-chemical strategies that can be used to manage pests.
5. Start small, have a successful and manageable season, and get bigger as resources, time, and support allows.
6. Know your resources. Here a few:

• UMaine Cooperative Extension County Offices
• UMaine Extension Garden & Yard
• Maine Agriculture in the Classroom
• Maine School Garden Network
• FoodCorps

• Why a New Animal/Plant Disease and Insect Control Lab for Maine? (video)
• Agriculture
• Public  Health
• Communities
• Wildlife

Photo by Ana Bonstedt

Garlic is perhaps one of the oldest horticultural crops around the world, and it has grown in the United States for about 300 years.

Garlic is easy to grow and can be planted in Maine early in the fall about 4 to 6 weeks before the soil freezes.  During this time frame, the cloves (the same cloves we use in cooking) will send out roots and then go dormant for the winter. When spring temperatures rise, the bulbs will send up green shoots and begin to produce new cloves from the original clove below ground.

Photo by Ana Bonstedt

Mulching may help control weeds and conserve moisture, but organic mulches may encourage rot in wet seasons.  

Photo by Ana Bonstedt

Soil pH should be between 6.2 and 7.0 and a low nitrogen fertilizer such as 1-2-2 should be used.  

Hardneck garlic sends up a flower stalk called a scape, while softneck garlic will not send up the flower stalk. These scapes should be removed when they form in May or June to encourage the plant to put its energy into bulb formation. The scapes are edible and can be used as a spicy vegetable.

Harvest the bulbs when the first signs of leaf yellowing appear in July or August. Softneck garlic will mature a few weeks before the hardneck garlic. The ideal timing maximizes bulb size but does not allow the cloves to begin to separate. Once harvested, bulbs should be allowed to air dry out of direct sunlight. Once cured, rub or brush the soil off the bulbs, and braid or remove the tops. Garlic can be kept in mesh or paper bags in a ventilated area with temperatures of 60 to 90 F. For long term storage, humidity should be 50 to 65% and the temperature held just above freezing.

If you have never planted garlic before, check these two links that will give you detailed information about growing garlic under Maine's soil and weather conditions:  

Growing Hardneck Garlic in Your Maine Garden 

How to Harvest and Store Apples

How to Harvest and Store Onions
How to Harvest and Store Pumpkins

Identifying Late Blight

How to Freeze Tomatoes

Publications

Websites

Poultry related websites appropriate for small scale poultry producers (farmers, backyard keepers and 4H leaders) contact Donna Coffin for the list.

One Search - Research-based information from land-grant institutions throughout the nation

UMaine Extension Garlic Website

UMaine Cooperative Extension: Garden and Yard

Piscataquis County Office

Penobscot County Office