The following is an update from Mr. Canada on the garden….

We are busy in and around the garden though the weather has been rather unseasonable. This has not stopped our kids from attending gardening classes outside.

The Spring Farmers Market will begin this coming Tuesday, April 24th in the afternoon at 3:15 pm rain or shine. Our kids are excited as usual and I would personally like to thank our second graders for their willingness to volunteer.

We have now a Tree Care Group who have taken on the responsibility to water our newly planted trees donated to us from Urban Forestry.

Our Mason bees, oh so tiny and delicate have hatched and are busy pollinating the apple and pear trees in our garden.

Students are introduced each fall and spring experiencing the life of a new born chick, the life of two baby chickens, and our Hens in the Stoddert Garden.

We have four parents and their kids who have volunteered to learn firsthand the benefits of composting by taking home one of our portable compost bins.

Though we’re moving towards the end of the school year, this summer we will be providing produce as a donation to a local neighborhood shelter, a part of a national project called “Giving Garden.”

Next week, two of our third grade classes will take part in planting additional trees along 39th Street for a Pre-Arbor Day Community project sponsored by Urban Forestry.

Our fifth graders are quite involved in learning how to successfully grow seed to seedling, transplanting of seedling, plant care , and vegetable to market in addition to garden architecture.

I invite parents to consider volunteering to work in the garden for the spring and summer season. Click here to sign up to help with the garden.

Last but not least, over the past month our students are learning more about how we, as individuals, families, community and here at Stoddert can reduce food waste. Our fourth grade students are in the process of drafting letters to local stores and city officials with their concerns and the specific ideas that they have as a group come up with to combat food waste.

Feel free to schedule a meeting with me regarding any questions, comments, or suggestions you may have regarding the gardening program here at Stoddert.

Thank you!