Tomato varieties that we planted from seed are (as seen in the following video): Abraham Lincoln, Condon's Peerless, Earliana, Rutgers, Siberia, Creme Sausage, Caspian Pink, Arkansas Traveler, Precocibec, Glamour, Louisiana Red and Coyote. These went in as organic seed on 4/1 and were transplanted several weeks later.

Some of the lettuce varieties we planted are pictured here. Tender, crisp and colorful, nothing compares to a salad with greens grown from seed and on the table/in the bowl by early April. Varietal names are in the planting log at the bottom of the blog.

The Mothers Club and Fathers Club helped the garden with the purchase of some cold frames (containing carrots in these shots) and a Mantis tiller for bed preparation. Here is a movie of some of the 5th period Earth Science students (8th grade) working out with the tiller for the inaugural run. The 7th period types are working around the cold frames.

The planting log at the bottom of the posts shows varieties, times and details. Here are a few shots of the tender spring veggies under the grow lights in the Earth Science lab.

What's been happening?

Well, it has been a while since the last entry. Since the spring vegetables were planted as seeds on 2/22/2010, much has happened. The turnips, radishes, lettuce, kohlrabi, cabbage, broccoli, carrots, swiss chard, beets, green onions, red onions, leeks and brussel sprouts are all harvested, eaten or still really putting out. Oh, forgot to mention the peas...sweet and edible right off the vine without cooking! Seriously, the 8th graders have been keeping the place up and the crops have been doing their parts. With the floods, Envirothon and the loss of a great friend of the garden, Malith, postings just became back burner. As we enter the end of school days and hours open up, maybe we can update you with pics and chatter. Here, period 3 is prepping beds for the spring crops. This is probably a day or two before Spring break.

A Shot From Last Year's Harvest to Whet the Appetite!
Greetings and welcome to a new year. The fall was busy and not well documented. The 8th graders (and some demerit hall attendees) spent class time and Saturdays respectively, cleaning beds, making compost and putting the garden away for the winter. We have not done a lot of tilling or cultivating as the winter has been wet, cold and often with a good snow layer on the ground. Indoors, we have been very busy. Seeds are ordered and in. Eighteen (18) varieties have already been planted in indoor growing beds (flats under grow lights) and we can't wait to see them sprout and develop. Lettuces, onions, broccoli, cabbage, kohl rabi, leeks, and turnips have been started. The planting log is at the bottom of this page with more info on varieties, types and quantities. We anticipate bed prep and direct seeding of many spring garden favorites in the next few weeks as time and weather permit. Gifts from the Mothers and Fathers clubs include two cold frames, a new Mantis tiller and a new composter, giving us a total of 4 composters now. We hope to be planting out into the cold frames soon! Good to be back and itching to go! The MBA Garden Crew.

Pepper mandala

These are garden grown peppers, arranged in a complex design.