Gather in the Garden and More
What is Gather in the Garden?
The connection between humans and our Earth are never ending. Each Wednesday after school, we'll be "gathering in the garden" to help our young people turn their innate knowledge of the world around us into real experiences. Adventures through basic earth science, energy and growing cycles and community stewardship concepts will be the focus. Adults are encouraged to help embark on this youth garden adventure just as much as the kiddos are. This class maxes out at 8 students but for each adult that signs up to attend two more student spots open. Please sign up for the after school class through enrichment. Start and end dates and times will follow the enrichment calendar. For any questions about our garden, please contact Andrea Hildebrandt and mates at garden1@qaeptsa.org.
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QAE SUMMER GARDEN CLASSES FOR KIDS
2019
2019
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Some good thymes are coming up in our QAE P-Patch! This is the second summer the QAE P-Patch has been planting, growing & harvesting and sharing, exploring, learning and enjoying it all with students and families! All are welcome to join us this Summer as it's the best time of the year to enjoy the sights, sounds, smells and treats of fresh veggies and berries right off the vines. At each session students will help water and harvest our P-Patch, do an earth based craft, get to know our local urban wildlife and explore basic garden science concepts.
Sign-up your kiddos now by e-mailing garden1@qaeptsa.org. Subject line "Summer P-Patch" Class dates and times:
Cost: Suggested donation of $10 per child with the option of giving more to offset costs for others. All the money goes back to supporting our school P-Patch and garden program. Who: Any and all kids in our QAE community and beyond entering grades K-5 in Fall 2019. Invite friends, family, neighbors, visitors etc. Kids under Kindergarten age will need to have an adult in tow. Team taught by QAE Garden Coordinator, Andrea Hildebrandt and QAE Substitute Teacher, Tamara Convertino. Both QAE Parents. Visit our QAE garden blog for more info https://www.qaeptsa.org/garden.html |
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SECOND SEMESTER 2019 UPDATES AND PICS ARE COMING SOON!
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First Semester of Gather in the Garden/Green Team Re-cap. We've had a young class of kiddos putting on their scientists, biologists and animal behaviorists hats for the last 18 weeks or so. Holy acorns! These budding naturalists have learned a lot and so have I! Did you know that seeds can grow, germinate in a plastic bag? I didn't but now I do! Below is the list of some of what we explored all semester. Enjoy the show on the right! QAE students are looking forward to continuing second semester outside at our p-patch! *nature*crafts*outside* *leave hunts*seeds*bursting*growing* *roots & shoots*seed coat* *seed hunt* *experiment*identifying* *squirrels*acorns* *Easter Grey Squirrel* *Western Grey Squirrel* *endangered* *nuts* *squirrel behavior*dreys*squirrel nests* *urban wildlife*seasons*weather* *winter solstice* *length of days*tilt of the Earth* North & South*dark&light*Sun*shadows* *asking questions*art*clean school* *green school* *garbage*recycling*compost* *bird feeders*games*sit spots*swallowtail *butterfly*pollinator* *decomposer*ladybug*beetles*pupa*larva* *life stages* *Native Peoples* |
To register for Gather in the Garden second semester 2018-19 visit the enrichment page.
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Welcome 2018-19 School Year!
It's the year of stewardship. Lets leave this place better then how we found it. Giving thanks and care for the living world around us by interacting, observing, listening, learning, conserving and helping is one of the most important things we practice.
The Summer program was sweet and small in attendance but tremendous and rewarding in community. Thank you to the following QAE families who helped maintain our p-patch, teach classes, attended classes and donated to Lowell Elementary IslandWood 2018-19:
Cindy Reiner, Shalini Rao Nilakantan, Quincy Ninh, Mary Rea, Haru Komuro, Tiffany Robinson, Tamara Convertino and Rachel Marks.
As you all know, since our community is at a temporary location, opportunities to have garden and eco-literacy adventures are different. The Queen Anne P-Patch Summer classes were amazing! We hope to continue providing this learning option for all families on Wednesday afternoons. Stay tuned-in for information about the school year enrichment class. There might be some opportunities to do some gardening around John Marshall as well. Until then, there is a P-Patch open house this weekend September, 15 9:30-12:00 a.m. Greet the morning here and relax in the afternoon at Woodland Park for the Back to School Picnic 10a.m.-2p.m. See you all outside on Saturday!
It's the year of stewardship. Lets leave this place better then how we found it. Giving thanks and care for the living world around us by interacting, observing, listening, learning, conserving and helping is one of the most important things we practice.
The Summer program was sweet and small in attendance but tremendous and rewarding in community. Thank you to the following QAE families who helped maintain our p-patch, teach classes, attended classes and donated to Lowell Elementary IslandWood 2018-19:
Cindy Reiner, Shalini Rao Nilakantan, Quincy Ninh, Mary Rea, Haru Komuro, Tiffany Robinson, Tamara Convertino and Rachel Marks.
As you all know, since our community is at a temporary location, opportunities to have garden and eco-literacy adventures are different. The Queen Anne P-Patch Summer classes were amazing! We hope to continue providing this learning option for all families on Wednesday afternoons. Stay tuned-in for information about the school year enrichment class. There might be some opportunities to do some gardening around John Marshall as well. Until then, there is a P-Patch open house this weekend September, 15 9:30-12:00 a.m. Greet the morning here and relax in the afternoon at Woodland Park for the Back to School Picnic 10a.m.-2p.m. See you all outside on Saturday!
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This Summer 2018 we've been playing, exploring, creating and discovering in the Patch!
Community Events at the P-Patch Everyone is invited and we hope to include some of these dates on our PTSA Calendar GARDENERS CHECK THIS OUT! MEET IN THE GARDEN! GET THESE DATES ON YOUR CALENDAR! POTLUCK: Bring a dish to share, your own plate & utensils KLATSCH: A social gathering, especially for coffee and conversation. Bring a cup of tea or coffee, swap garden ideas May 19 - Saturday - coffee klatsch 9:30am June 16 - Saturday - potluck 5:30 pm – 7:30pm June 23 - Saturday - klatsch 9:30 am July 18 - Wednesday – potluck with MINT THEMED DRINKS 5:30 pm-7:30pm July 28 - Saturday - klatsch 9:30 am August 11 - Saturday – BRUNCH and MIMOSAS 10:00-noon August 25 –Saturday- klatsch 9:30 am September 15- Saturday- klatsch 9:30am September -19- Wednesday -potluck ZUCCHINI CONTEST 5:30-7:30pm ****October 20 - Saturday - potluck HARVEST THEME - 4 pm - 6 pm **** |
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Summer 2018 is coming and gardens around us are growing!
** End of Year Garden Gratitude **
Saturday, June 23 at the QA P-Patch (301 Lynn St.) from 9:30-11:30 a.m.
All are invited to have coffee, pastries, kid-friendly and garden variety snacks while getting to know other members of our greater QA Neighborhood. Check out the QAE Garden Patch, find out how you and your family can get involved, crafting and nature hunts for kids, ask questions and enjoy the morning.
**A Summer Garden Class**
July 11,18,25 and August 8,15
Sign up on FB
We're happy to offer this class on various Wednesday mornings 9:30-11:30 at the QAE P-Patch! Your child can expect to get dirty while exploring much of the beauty surrounding them while learning basic garden maintenance, stewardship and care of plants and other p-patches. There will be some focused topics that align with what plants are currently in bloom or ready for harvest. Lessons connected to our local urban wild life, flora and fauna that live in and around the p-patch will also be incorporated. Some nature crafting is most definitely going to happen as well!
Please send your child with a water bottle, a snack, a sun hat and already sun screened up. Being accompanied by an adult is appreciated but not necessary. There will be waver to sign if you choose to send your child with out an adult. There is no public restroom at the p-patch. This class if FREE with a suggested $10 donation. 100% will go towards Lowell Elementary 2018-19 5th graders to help fund their Fall IslandWood experience. garden1@qaeptsa.org
** End of Year Garden Gratitude **
Saturday, June 23 at the QA P-Patch (301 Lynn St.) from 9:30-11:30 a.m.
All are invited to have coffee, pastries, kid-friendly and garden variety snacks while getting to know other members of our greater QA Neighborhood. Check out the QAE Garden Patch, find out how you and your family can get involved, crafting and nature hunts for kids, ask questions and enjoy the morning.
**A Summer Garden Class**
July 11,18,25 and August 8,15
Sign up on FB
We're happy to offer this class on various Wednesday mornings 9:30-11:30 at the QAE P-Patch! Your child can expect to get dirty while exploring much of the beauty surrounding them while learning basic garden maintenance, stewardship and care of plants and other p-patches. There will be some focused topics that align with what plants are currently in bloom or ready for harvest. Lessons connected to our local urban wild life, flora and fauna that live in and around the p-patch will also be incorporated. Some nature crafting is most definitely going to happen as well!
Please send your child with a water bottle, a snack, a sun hat and already sun screened up. Being accompanied by an adult is appreciated but not necessary. There will be waver to sign if you choose to send your child with out an adult. There is no public restroom at the p-patch. This class if FREE with a suggested $10 donation. 100% will go towards Lowell Elementary 2018-19 5th graders to help fund their Fall IslandWood experience. garden1@qaeptsa.org
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Second Semester of 2017-18! We continued to do all of the things together that make Gather in the Garden fun but more outside and at the QA P-Patch located at Lynn and Boston. It's less then a 10 minute walk and about 10 minutes with 12 kids and 3 adults in tow! We explored, observed, calculated, questioned, answered and adventured like true scientists and nature travelers do! Here are just a few concepts, ideas, cultures, people, key words, flora and fauna we learned about on our Gather in the Garden Adventures: Black History Month* Rue Mapp* Outdoor Afro* Will Allen* urban gardens* Black Lives Matter*water cycle* evaporation* condensation* precipitation*our friend Arlo and Polluted Puddles* People of Puget Sound*heart shaped bird feeders*Spring Equinox*longer days*spring bulbs*energy storage*garlic*tree anatomy*tree buds*locust trees*linden trees/basswoods* place based learning*trees that live at our school* mason bees*pollinators*solitary bees*social bees*life cycles*larva*nectar*male and females*Earth Day*Rachel Carson*DDT*women writers*Native Americans* First Environmentalists* seed packets* giving back*Lowell Elementary IslandWood experience* nature stewardship journals* sifting soil* painting rocks* soil amendments* vegetables * strawberries * tomatoes * Ozette Potato * Neah Bay * WA* heirloom variety * potato chips * mound planting * potato life cycle * Calendula * P-Patching * tee-pee pea building * pea spouts * shady fruit trees*
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Spring Garden Info from Seattle Public Schools: Bring a friend or shoot me an e-mail if your looking for one.
Earth Week 2018
The parent support for this week has been amazing! We had more parent volunteers this year then last and I expect next years to grow even more. The students had so much fun thanks to our community guests like Salena from City Fruit, Natalie from Seattle Tilth Alliance and Owen and Ryan from Owen's List and last but not least Anne Marie Canlis and Brittany from the QA Farmer's Market and Mrs. Kristin Teske and her Peonies. Collaborating with 4th grade IlandWood fundraising students and parents was a joy. Thank you Jody Scott, Melanthia Peterson, Jody Stewart and that isn't even all of them. Kindergarten parent volunteers get a big shout out too; Dasha Narog, Jeanine MacQuarrie, Haru Komuro and Tamara Convertino. Thank you to Nicole Forest for sending us help too. Special kuddos to QAE teachers, Lorin Belcher and Laura Shaw for pulling their students together and encouraging them to participate in the assembly. Enjoy the pics of tasting, creating, planting, dancing, printing, learning and sharing. Our GG students did an amazing job selling seed packets and raising money for Lowell Elementary Island 2018. Through this experience they not only learned about the amazing powers a seed has but that people of all color have contributed to our environment in a positive impactful way. Like Rue Mapp and Will Allen. Enjoy the pics QAE and happy Earth Day Every Day! This is for the future of our future's future....you know!
Here's the Buzz about Mason Bees
Dear QAE Community,
I'm happy to bring you the buzz about some special school guests. Meet the Mason Bees! A few parent volunteers, with Janine's help, have come together to bring non-aggressive, native pollinators, Mason Bees to our school. Our hope is that teachers and students will learn more about the important job they do in providing a ecologically healthy and balanced environment. By hosting Mason Bees we can make an impactful connection with our students. We hope you find Mason Bees as interesting and fun as we do!
Some Key Facts:
- Mason Bees do not sting because they don't have a queen to protect. Therefore, they are great for educational purposes. That said, please remind students to be respectful. As with all living creatures, they can be provoked.
- The hive will be located on the outside South facing wall of the music classroom portable. It will be put up as soon as the outside temperature reaches a consistent 50 - 55 degrees F. 3-5 days after, the males will hatch out of their cocoons and another 2-5 days after that the females will hatch. The males will fertilize the females and then for the following weeks up until June the females will collect nectar to bring back to the hive where they lay their eggs. As they collect nectar they will be delivering pollen from flower to flower.
- They will fly as far as 300 feet (1 football field) in search of pollen nectar sources.
- Mason bees prefer to feed on nectar and collect pollen from fruit trees like apple, cherry, and pear. They also forage on dandelions and Oregon grape. We have lots of dandelions in bloom around QAE! They'll like the grape in the garden and native plants. Please let students know that picking the flowers takes away food for our bees.
- Female Mason Bees need to build their chamber walls with moist clay soil. Our garden soil varies so to ensure they have a source of clay, rather than sandy soil, there will be a special container or spot in the garden that has this. The Garden volunteers will maintain this. With the support of teachers, staff and students we hope it will not be disturbed too much. If clay mud is not available, then mason bees will not use our hive.
https://www.rentmasonbees.com/pages/faqs-links - This is where our Mason Bees came from 😊 Great FAQ page!
https://catalog.extension.oregonstate.edu/sites/catalog/files/project/pdf/em9130_0.pdf - Great info about life cycle and images.
https://www.nwf.org/Magazines/National-Wildlife/2016/AprilMay/Gardening/Bees - Great overall writeup about importance of native bees, what is threatening their existance and solutions/how we can help.
https://www.buzzaboutbees.net/mason-bees.html - Includes a video of bee mating behavior.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23503659-mason-meets-a-mason-bee - Lastly a great, simple and fun story of a boy's interaction with a talking Mason Bee. Includs k-5 curriculum. I have this book and am happy to copy pages, let you borrow it or both!
- If your kiddos would like to help make signs for the Mason Bee Hive or the Special Clay Soil please let me know! They will posted near the hive and the clay soil.
It's wonderful to bee a parent in our QAE community. You all are no doubt, the bees knees!
Thank you!
-Andrea and the Garden Volunteers
Happy April 1st! Welcome to the month we celebrate all that the Earth provides for us and how it sustains life. There is so much to celebrate this month. Did you know that Arbor Day is April 27th and National Park Week is April 21-29th? Earth Day is April 22nd!
We have a lot of guests from our community visiting our school the week of April 16-20 for our Earth Week Celebration. These are people who work with environmental/stewardship/educational/Native Community organizations. Some are local to Queen Anne and some are Seattle or regionally based. A handful are QAE parents! Many are students and a few passionate teachers.
I want to shout out 3rd grade teacher Mr. Liner and Mrs. Belcher who have worked hard to provide a well rounded PBL about Salmon. A few weeks ago I was lucky enough to observe a visit from the Seattle Rain Wise Program. Our 3rd graders learned about our Seattle Watershed, where is starts and ends and the importance of that millions of years old water cycle here on Earth. The impact humans have on the cleanliness of our water is much easier to see the more we learn about it. So keep on opening up to all of the life cycles on this breathing, living, feeling planet. Let's Celebrate! Everyone is always invited!
One thing not included on the schedule is the 3rd Grade Public Announcements about Salmon at the Ballard Locks on Earth Day weekend, April 21 and 22. It hasn't been finalized yet so stay tuned in for details as they develop.
Check out the schedule to the left and write to garden1@qaeptsa.org with your thoughts.
Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished. - Lao Tzu
We have a lot of guests from our community visiting our school the week of April 16-20 for our Earth Week Celebration. These are people who work with environmental/stewardship/educational/Native Community organizations. Some are local to Queen Anne and some are Seattle or regionally based. A handful are QAE parents! Many are students and a few passionate teachers.
I want to shout out 3rd grade teacher Mr. Liner and Mrs. Belcher who have worked hard to provide a well rounded PBL about Salmon. A few weeks ago I was lucky enough to observe a visit from the Seattle Rain Wise Program. Our 3rd graders learned about our Seattle Watershed, where is starts and ends and the importance of that millions of years old water cycle here on Earth. The impact humans have on the cleanliness of our water is much easier to see the more we learn about it. So keep on opening up to all of the life cycles on this breathing, living, feeling planet. Let's Celebrate! Everyone is always invited!
One thing not included on the schedule is the 3rd Grade Public Announcements about Salmon at the Ballard Locks on Earth Day weekend, April 21 and 22. It hasn't been finalized yet so stay tuned in for details as they develop.
Check out the schedule to the left and write to garden1@qaeptsa.org with your thoughts.
Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished. - Lao Tzu
We need your recyclables! Before we adventure off on Spring Break please bring in your clean and dry recyclables. There will be collection boxes near the entrance to the Tree House and Brick Buildings next week, March 30th-April 4th. These materials will be used at the Recycled Instruments Creation Station set up after school on Monday, April 16th. All students young and old are invited to repurpose and create as we kick-off Earth Week, 2018!
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Thank you to everyone who came out and helped build, create and support Islandwood students! There were upwards of 50 people! Success!! We'll be gathering again this Friday night at 6:30-8:00 to do some final touches. Please join us if you can!
Here is the dirt about our Creative CommUnity Event.
We need your paper bags: The grocery bag type. This will be the base material for paper mache. Please bring them to the receptacles near the Tree House entrance and the Brick Building Entrance from Monday, March 19th - Friday, March 23rd.
On the 24th there will be two main stations:
1. Paper macheing the Globe of our Earth and taping on the continents. On each strip write what you are most grateful to the Earth for...making it a globe full of gratitude.
2. Creating whales, salmon, birds, trees, people and bees. Can you guess what living creature represents each of our QAE grades? 3-5 Volunteers needed! Sign-up Here.
The Earth will need to dry out before we add the final layer of blue and green paint. Gather in the Garden students will do this part of the project.
Adding the living creatures will be the very last step before it's ready to hang in our Lunch Hall for All! Stay tuned in for when and where that will take place.
Whoot to YOU! For digging into this creative momentum building journey! Earth Day is April 22nd. It's a fortunate time when so many community members come together to celebrate the diversity of life that our Earth sustains now and for our future generations! Your participation anchors the root message to our students that we care about their future!
We need your paper bags: The grocery bag type. This will be the base material for paper mache. Please bring them to the receptacles near the Tree House entrance and the Brick Building Entrance from Monday, March 19th - Friday, March 23rd.
On the 24th there will be two main stations:
1. Paper macheing the Globe of our Earth and taping on the continents. On each strip write what you are most grateful to the Earth for...making it a globe full of gratitude.
2. Creating whales, salmon, birds, trees, people and bees. Can you guess what living creature represents each of our QAE grades? 3-5 Volunteers needed! Sign-up Here.
The Earth will need to dry out before we add the final layer of blue and green paint. Gather in the Garden students will do this part of the project.
Adding the living creatures will be the very last step before it's ready to hang in our Lunch Hall for All! Stay tuned in for when and where that will take place.
Whoot to YOU! For digging into this creative momentum building journey! Earth Day is April 22nd. It's a fortunate time when so many community members come together to celebrate the diversity of life that our Earth sustains now and for our future generations! Your participation anchors the root message to our students that we care about their future!
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First Semester of 2017-18! We explored, observed, calculated, questioned, answered and adventured like true scientists and nature travelers do! Here are just a few concepts, ideas, cultures, people, flora and fauna we learned about on our Gather in the Garden Adventures:
Sun, Soil, H20, Air Yoga * Cycle of Seeds * Seed Harvesting and Collecting * Echinacea * Marigolds * Tomatoes * Fried Green Tomatoes * Tomato Muffins * Indigenous Peoples Day * Duwamish Tribe * Lupin * Native Plants * Blake Shelafoe * Winter Green Mix * Parts of the Garden * Mint * Spiders * Orb Spiders * Scarecrows * Why do Farmers need Scarecrows * Silk * Life Cycles * Poetry * Pumpkin Circle * Principal Appreciation Day * Squash * Male and Female Flowers * Lavender * Bird Feeders * Beaks Evolved Based on Food * Habitat * Backyard Bird I.D. * Anna's Hummingbird * Rufous Hummingbird * Migration * Black Capped Chickadee * Spotted Towhee * Stellar's Jay * Native American Seed Saving Pots * Coiled Clay * Earth and Clay * Earth and Fire Video of Anasazi Techniques * Nest * Urban Wildlife * Western Grey Squirrel * Dreys * Leaf Nests * North American Black Crow * Twigging * Stick Nests * Observations of Light * Shadows * Winter Solstice * Sun * Measuring * Diurnal * Nocturnal * Stewardship of Earth, Land, Flora, Fauna and People * Native American Symbols & Meanings * Native American Storytelling * Bulbs * Food Storage * Paperwhites * Garlic Life Cycle * Playdough Nature Arrangements * Leaf Pressing * |
Date Change!!!
Due to a windy and rainy weather forecast for Sunday our event is moved to Saturday, November 18th. Same time and place! 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. at the QAE Garden
Sorry for the late blog update!
Our November Big Dig is all about finding new homes for the perennial garden plants. Come June, our garden space is going to be sadly bulldozed. The good is that it makes new classrooms for our growing population of students. That said, our plants are part of the history of our school. Teachers and administrators that founded our school decided they value our an outdoor learning classroom. It was well maintained at some points and at other times it was not. I hope to continue to maintain the momentum of those and these good times even as we enter a new time of uncertain growing spaces. It charges us to be creative and open minded about how to grow and learn as we are in a temporary space and we evolve. Facing new challenges is what life brings.
We are happy to offer plants to our community. You can be a great steward by adopting or fostering. Please come to the Big Dig on Sunday, November 19th from 10 a.m - 12:00
Dig up now as these plants go dormant for beautiful blooms in the spring/summer. Learn how to build a cloche for winter gardening. Have fun meet new people! Bring extra shovels if you have them.
We are collecting medium to large plastic pots for this project. Please bring them to the office.
If you can not make the work party but are interested in adopting or fostering email the garden crew: garden1@qaeptsa.org
Find us on the play ground, in the garden or around school.
We hope your family participates in this growing adventure with us!
echinacea*wildrose*lupine*minature dogwood*grapes*lavender*mint*sage*thyme*rosemary*
...and more!
Indigenous Peoples Day Gathering in the Garden
Monday, October 9th, 2:30-4:30 p.m.
To show your spirit and support wear RED on this day!
We are honored to have Mr. Blake Shelafoe from the Duwamish Longhouse and Cultural Center visit our school on this important day. All families are invited to join and respectfully observe as he conducts a blessing ceremony for our garden. After, everyone is invited to help plant PNW native plants species. The Duwamish are considered to be Seattle's First People and are the people of Chief Seattle. www.duwamishtribe.org . Thank you to Oxbow Farm Native Plant program for the special donations and the Duwamish Long House Cultural Center for sharing this enriching, cultural environmentally educational experience with our community. In the Spirit of Indigenous Peoples Day we invite our QAE community to wear the color red. This event is brought to you by our PTSA Garden group and our QAE Families of Color group.
Post Event
What a beautiful and powerful experience. Our guest felt honored and respected by our QAE Community of students, teachers, parents, families and administration. Here are some images and video of the time we spent with Mr. Shelafoe. Thank you to Christa Winquist for photography and videography.
Eagle Dance
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Bear Dance
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Mrs. Roy doing a traditional welcome
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Current native plants and or significant plants to People of the PNW and it's environment
located in the QAE Garden - *always a work in progress*
located in the QAE Garden - *always a work in progress*
Ozette Potatoes were planted by the 2016-17 4th graders as part of their NW Peoples studies. The Ozette, also known locally as Makah Ozette or Anna Cheeka's Ozette is the oldest variety of potato grown in the Pacific Northwest region. This potato, of the petite heirloom fingerling type, was grown for over two centuries by the Makah tribe native to Washington and was "rediscovered" in the late 1980s.
The name "Ozette" is derived from one of the original five villages of the Makah tribe.
The name "Ozette" is derived from one of the original five villages of the Makah tribe.
"Showy" Milkweed seeds were planted by the 2016-17 4th graders as part of their NW Peoples studies. This species is also known as Western Oregon's native species. As the migration patterns of monarchs happen, they make their path eastward right at the northern border of WA and OR. Making this a regional native species that can me found in mid and eastern WA as well as Or but not western WA. We experimented with the seeds and they germinated! This photo is not what our plants currently look like in the garden. No flowers have developed yet. The stems and leaves look healthy and strong.
Species Asclepias speciosa
Species Asclepias speciosa
Back to school Garden Work Party & All School Clean Up
Saturday, September 23 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. 2017
Welcome to a new school year at QAE! In the garden there is always celebration of renewed life cycles. One of the most rewarding places to witness the giving back part of that cycle is in our school community garden. The summer brought beautiful blooms and veggies. In fact, because of the late growing season, tomatillos might finally be filling out their lanterns and roma tomatoes still might be on the vine; just turning red and ready for harvest by the September 23rd. Fall brings us fading flowers, bolted greens, a small bounty of squash and a fortune of seeds! The garden brings opportunities for our school community to give back. Please come and get to know the garden in a new way. Help collect seeds, make garden signage, spread wood chips, collect and sort school garbage (mostly zip lock baggies and food wrappers), sow a fall bed and enjoy coffee, hot cider and our very own QAE Garden Squash Muffins, meet new people, relax, have fun, get your heart rate up, get dirty, and help out. There is even a small demolition project for those who really like to swing a hammer! Kids can become certified local stewards! Get a sticker for each task they complete. They can turn in their completed entry card at the garden table for a chance to win a gift certificate to The Queen Anne Farmer's Market. Please know that each and every part of our QAE community is invited. An rsvp is always appreciated! Come prepared for rain or shine but always check the garden blog and QAE Community FB page for the most up to date information.
QAE Garden is powered by 100% clean volunteer energy!
Saturday, September 23 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. 2017
Welcome to a new school year at QAE! In the garden there is always celebration of renewed life cycles. One of the most rewarding places to witness the giving back part of that cycle is in our school community garden. The summer brought beautiful blooms and veggies. In fact, because of the late growing season, tomatillos might finally be filling out their lanterns and roma tomatoes still might be on the vine; just turning red and ready for harvest by the September 23rd. Fall brings us fading flowers, bolted greens, a small bounty of squash and a fortune of seeds! The garden brings opportunities for our school community to give back. Please come and get to know the garden in a new way. Help collect seeds, make garden signage, spread wood chips, collect and sort school garbage (mostly zip lock baggies and food wrappers), sow a fall bed and enjoy coffee, hot cider and our very own QAE Garden Squash Muffins, meet new people, relax, have fun, get your heart rate up, get dirty, and help out. There is even a small demolition project for those who really like to swing a hammer! Kids can become certified local stewards! Get a sticker for each task they complete. They can turn in their completed entry card at the garden table for a chance to win a gift certificate to The Queen Anne Farmer's Market. Please know that each and every part of our QAE community is invited. An rsvp is always appreciated! Come prepared for rain or shine but always check the garden blog and QAE Community FB page for the most up to date information.
QAE Garden is powered by 100% clean volunteer energy!
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Come visit us at Back to School Night! Thursday, August 5-6:30
Garden calendars will be available
Sign-up to receive the garden e-mail updates
Learn more about Gather in the Garden
Check out the harvest and have fun
Garden calendars will be available
Sign-up to receive the garden e-mail updates
Learn more about Gather in the Garden
Check out the harvest and have fun
Welcome to the QAE Learning Garden
2017-2018
A special Garden Informational is taking place for incoming Kindergarten families the week of Jump Start. Thursday, August 24th following drop-off.
Please gather in our beautiful library for coffee and donuts. Listen, relax and get to know one another as the garden coordinator and crew share all that the garden has to offer your family. There will be a PTSA representative and other QAE community reps gathering as well.
We hope you can join us!
Gather in the Garden - Sunny Side-Up! Summer Program
Summer is right around the corner! Even though school is out there is still much fun and learning to be had in the garden. To that, we will continue to explore and discover! We hope you can join us on our journey. We'll need a lot of helping hands this summer. Please read on to see how you can contribute and have fun!
Where: QAE Garden and QA Farmers Mkt.
When:
What:
Thursday mornings come Gather in the Garden - Sunny Side-Up! We'll have fun learning about watering, harvesting, bug identification, plant identification, pollinators, pressing flowers, playing games, singing songs, playing instruments, making sun prints, using tools safely and general garden maintenance. The second hour we'll prepare our harvest. Some weeks participating families will be able to take home what is harvested. Other weeks participating families will have an opportunity to deliver and sell, for a suggested donation, at the QA Farmer's Mkt. Roots to Shoots Kids Tent. See specific dates above and sign-up here to participate! Yeah!! Very exciting and we hope that you will sign up for this as it's such a great opportunity to see how the full circle of food production works. It's a rewarded experience for our students as well!
Cost: Free
Who: All QAE students, families and friends. This is not a drop off program. 1 adult per 3 children is required.
Some Background:
Most of the food grown in the garden this year has been initiated through Whole Foods Grant that was awarded the QAE Garden and it's QAE Cultural Garden Program. The plants were stared as seeds indoors under grow lights located int eh Tree House. All teachers were asked to participate. Those who could afford the time and had the student interest were the following classes:
Summer Gardening Watering and Harvest - please sign-up to help!
Who: All QAE students, families and friends
What: Help make sure our garden is well watered and harvested. There will be opportunity for you to learn the basic watering procedures. Helpful signage will be in the garden for you to reference about watering and harvesting. What ever you harvest you can bring home to eat or drop off at the garden coordinators house where it will be taken to the QA Farmer's Mkt. or taken to a food bank.
Where: QAE Cultural Garden
When: June - August
Why: We live in a place where there is a drought from July - September most years. It's important to hydrate our garden three times a week during this time. It's important to harvest ripe fruit. If it falls on the ground it will attract unwanted pests, insects and rodents. Our garden is a gift and here is an opportunity for our community to care for it. You and your students' involvement help create future stewards.
General Garden Training and Tours: For any adult, family, faculty member who wishes to know how to orientate yourself in the garden, where to find tools, some basic care guidelines and basic guidelines for working with students in the garden as well as plant identification. Half hour long.
When:
Saturday, June 17 at 9:00 a.m.
Monday, June 19 at 8:00 a.m.
Tuesday, June 20 at 2:30 p.m.
*~*~*~* Sign-Up Here! *~*~*~* Sigh-Up Here! *~*~*~* Sign-Up Here! *~*~*~* Sigh-Up Here! *~*~*~* Sign-Up Here! *~*~*~*
Empty Bowls Ceramics Event - Help Fight Child Hunger This Summer
Where: QAE Garden
When: Thursday July 6, 9:00 - 12p.m.
What: Students will create ceramic bowls in the garden with teacher Sandra Farmer who is also a volunteer and parent at QAE. There is enough supplies for 15 students.
Who: Any QAE student, faculty, friend or family
Why: In Washington State only 11% of children who receive free and reduced cost meals during the school year are accessing free summer meal programs. There is a huge gap where there are either too few summer meal sites or located too far away. The families in these areas are typically considered high-need and are most likely also utilizing their local food bank. We want to leverage this point of access for kids. - See more at Northwest Harvest Kids Summer Food Club Where we send the donations we receive!
Cost: Suggested donation of $15 Pre-registration is required. Pay-pal at andrea_delarosa@msn.com
*~*~*~* Register Here! *~*~*~* Register Here! *~*~*~* Register Here! *~*~*~* Register Here! *~*~*~* Register Here! *~*~*~*
The basic idea for Empty Bowls is straightforward. Rather then soup and bread we may have students harvest a summer salad from the garden!
Empty Bowls began in 1990 as an art class project in a Michigan high school to raise funds for a food drive. Students made ceramic bowls, served a meal of soup and bread, and invited guests to keep the bowl as a reminder of hunger in the world.
By the following year the organizers had developed this idea into the Empty Bowls Project and established the imagine Group, a 501(c)3 organization designed to promote the concept.
Since its inception, this simple project has evolved into a far-reaching program providing support for food banks, soup kitchens, and other organizations that fight hunger. Empty Bowls events have been held throughout the world, raising millions of dollars for use in combating hunger. See The Clay Connection and Seattle Empty Bowls FB Page to find out more.
End of Year Garden Work Party & Potluck - RSVP Here
Who: QAE Community, families, students, staff, faculty and friends
What: A little work, a lot of play! It's a labor of love and gratitude. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! You and your families are invited to come hang, eat, drink and be merry. BYOB and dish to share. We'll provide the BBQ, S'mores, Coolers, Music and open our home for a gathering space (although small, it will be cozy).
Where: QAE Garden and The Hildebrandt Home located at 510 W Galer St, Seattle 98119
When: Saturday, June 24 10:00- 12:00 @ QAE Garden Potluck immediately to follow
Why: As our Seattle summer turns into drought-like weather, typically, July into September, the wood chips and hay will keep the soil moist and prevent it from turning into plots of dust. It will be a good way to indicate appropriate walking paths and put nutrients back into the soil as it decomposes over the coming seasons. Cool! Out of gratitude for the garden, our school community, the work our students have done and everyone that has helped in the garden, we want to gather in recognition of it all. Evan if you haven't had a change to help in the garden but are happy for it's existence and our community please come and celebrate!
Earth Week/Month at QAE!
I've worked hard and happily, with a few other parents, Mrs. Roy, teachers and community members to bring this time of year alive for QAE. We've put together a fun week/month! Earth Day is Saturday, April 22. Arbor Day is Friday, April 28.
Two guests during lunch/recess for the students to meet.
Location is somewhere between the lunch room and gym portable depending on weather.
*Tuesday the 18th - During Lunch/Recess the students can meet Faye Thornburgh from The National Wildlife Federation, Seattle office. She is the education coordinator and also an Americorp Member. She excited to introduce the Eco Schools Program with students and teachers. http://www.nwf.org/Eco-Schools-USA.aspx
Please encourage your students to visit her table set up to share children's books about wind, solar, hydro and geothermal energy sources and pick up a FREE Ranger Rick Magazines to take home!
*Thursday the 20th - Megan Carson will talk about Earth Day, growing food, plants and recycling through a simple project with sunflower seeds. She traveling from Bainbridge Island. http://islandwood.org Please encourage your students to visit her in or near the gym portable. If they want to plant a sunflower seed ask students to rinse out their milk cartons and bring it to Megan. There will be extra cartons there too if they forget. She will do "Secret of a Seed" with the kids. I think all ages will be interested but especially the younger grades. After I have done seed germination with K-2, it's so clear that they LOVE planting seeds and would really like this short, easy and simple project. I would hate for them to miss this. I'm sure they will love taking it home to show their families too!!
*Wednesday the 19th - Gather is the Garden is having a guest speaker! Thank you to parent Mary Rae, (kiddo Collin in 1st grade) Gardening Grandma Bonnie Hedmen from the Seattle Community Pea Patch association, is bringing the world of pollinators to any student who can attend and is interested. Bonnie is also going to do a seed art project. We are lucky to have her be part of our week! Please encourage your students to attend. 2:15-3:30 in the garden. If it's raining it will be inside Mrs. Marks room.
Friday the 21st - Peonies and Bake Sale - Ms. Teske will be set up in the Garden selling Peonies after school on Friday! Peonies vary in price by size and rarity, and cost anywhere from $20-$80. Cash and checks are accepted. You may purchase through the website too: www.rarepeonies.com Be sure to type QAE next to your first name if you order online. Funds raised will go toward garden related spring, summer and early fall projects and school field trips.
All School Assembly
Monday the 24th @ 8:00 a.m.
Jane Valencia from the Seattle Storytellers Guild works with students in school and in outdoor settings. She'll connect students to the Earth through her story telling. She's very excited to be our guest! It's wonderful that all of our students will have an opportunity to experience this!
On going....through out the week / month
Video links: I'm putting together a list of video links for Mrs. Roy to share at lunch times that revolve around environmental stewardship and Earth Day.
*What I can do for our Earth: Students may be handing in a paper to you that states how they can help our Earth be healthy. I or another parent will come to pick them up through out the week(s) and then post them in the lunch room. This is an experiment and will depend on how many parents see the link through FB, the website or classroom parent updates.
Other exciting activities around school and the neighborhood
Gather in the Garden is excited to announce the beginnings of the QAE Cultural Garden this March! With the help of a recent grant our garden crew was awarded,....applause, applause!.... we will be able to purchase an indoor growing kit to start germination of seeds. The seeds growing were determined by favorite food stories that many of our QAE students have shared.
Keep a look out for for the fun! Fall, Spring and Summer work parties/events happen, don't miss them!
Volunteers Wanted
Everyone and anyone who:
Garden Educators/Docents:
The QAE Garden is looking for anyone with interest in all or some of the following duties: assist in a casual and creative teaching setting on Wednesdays after school, enjoys concepts of horticulture, earth science, art, crafting, being creative, fun and messy with small groups of children, consistent participation on a team that meets, plans and coordinates regular school wide educational events and celebrations in the garden through out the school year and summer months. Experience in these area is helpful but not necessary. Please connect with the Garden Coordinator at garden1@qaeptsa.org.
Donated Items Needed
The gardening team could use donations of any of the following: pruning shears, bulb planters, large or medium plastic yogurt containers with lids, masking tape or painters tape, newspaper and brown paper grocery bags, wooden stakes and sting/twine, clipboards, rain gauges. If you are interested in donating any of these or have other gardening items that you think would be useful, please contact Andrea directly at garden1@qaeptsa.org.
Upcoming Events
Raising Kids in Permaculture - Kid's Gardening Class
Sunday, March 12th, 11am - 12pm, City People's Garden Store, 2939 E Madison St, Seattle
Learn how to foster young learning and curiosity in a home permaculture garden with Jeremy Puma. Foraging edible foods, planting seeds and learning about the outdoor world are a few ways that the Puma family has strengthened their bond to nature and each other. Jeremy will focus on how to incorporate garden tasks into the family routine and teach skills for life in the process. This workshop is co-sponsored by City Fruit.
Spring Garden Work Party
Sunday, March 26th, 11am - 2pm, QAE Garden
If you haven't noticed, the garden soil has been trampled on by many smaller human feet. This does not help our garden grow. A discussion of solutions will take place this day. We'll also install some garden beds to see if this helps. So, bring your hammers, nails and any extra shelving materials and hooks you might have to donate. We'll be using this material to organize our garden shed. We need all the help we can get! Please come! As they say, many hands make light work. Besides, the forecast says fun in sun. There will be a drawing for two tickets to the Seattle Children's Theater and you never know you might be lucky enough to find some treasure buried in the compost! Come and have fun. There will be refreshments and snacks.
RSVP is appreciated: garden1@qaeptsa.org
Earth Day
In preparation for celebrating Earth Day which is Saturday, April 22nd; we are asking for volunteers to help with our plant sale and more activities that will take place during the school week leading up to Earth Day. Contact Andrea if you'd like to help!
Some Favorite Links -
http://www.skynursery.com/wp-content/themes/skynursery/docs/Jr._Gardeners/jrG_news_2017_spring_w.pdf
http://farmersalmanac.com/
http://www.seattletilth.org/
http://www.oxbow.org/
http://www.rare.peonies.com
Videos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DsxIkh0YEo
http://pbskids.org/video/sid-science-kid/1872446223
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2V_6jLmT_Fg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWLxREoPJ4w
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcLbiC5gE6w
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOOKQimko4M
Past Events - How did it go?
Gather in the Garden "winter style," November - March
Shoutin' out to Mrs. Marks! We are so grateful for her sharing her classroom with us after school. We are so grateful for a warm place, to share snacks, hear new stories, plant bulbs, make our own water cycles, string popcorn garland, sing with the drum and paste together our visions! Whoot! We're ready to get outside now that the sun is out making longer days for us to gather in the garden.
Garden Work Party, Nov 19th
All I can say is that we came, had fun, we dug, we cut, we hulled, had pizza, got a little crafty and worked hard!! We had enough people to get the job done and that is awesome! There is still some compost left over. Yes! There is a plan for it. No! It doesn't include having students climb and play all over it. Then again, what does one expect of our amazing, creative, strong spirited students. Play on I say! It won't be there forever but special thank you to those who monitor the playground. You keep not only our students safe but look out for the garden and the rest of the grounds as well. It will be exciting to see the bulbs pop up in the spring. We planted a "mystery" mix donated by one of the day of garden crew. Pics will be posted soon. I am hoping that there is another good turn out at the next Garden Gathering. Stay tuned for date and time!
Pumpkin Carving in the Garden, October 16th
Our very first Gather in the Garden event 2016 went really well! All it take is a few families to come out and it's a party! Tons of fun was had despite the rain. We learned about pumpkin seeds, how to keep your jack-o'lanterns from rotting so quickly, what critters live among us and how to make a pumpkin bird feeder. We shared, carving tools, donuts, coffee, warm apple cider, marsh mellows, laughs and memories. Thank you to everyone who came out! To RSVP for future events and for any garden questions connect with Andrea at garden1@qaeptsa.org.
Photos below: Spring Work Party and "Spring Breakin' it in the Garden" painting and stenciling oak barrels and garden boxes for tee-pea tents and cool weather plantings, GG "Winter Style" first and second graders making winter garland, seeds and berries! Thank you to our neighborhood businesses for donating compost and garden supplies this fall. More GG "Winter Style" planting paperwhites for winter bloooms indoors and using rosemary & lavender cuttings from the garden for decoration. Exploring the great book; The Living Sunlight and drawing the energy cycle. Pumpkin carving weekend gathering. Our Fall afternoon collecting Echinacea and many cone flower seeds. Photo Credit: Christa Winquist and Amy Pratt
Summer is right around the corner! Even though school is out there is still much fun and learning to be had in the garden. To that, we will continue to explore and discover! We hope you can join us on our journey. We'll need a lot of helping hands this summer. Please read on to see how you can contribute and have fun!
Where: QAE Garden and QA Farmers Mkt.
When:
- Thursday Mornings 9-11:00 a.m. June-29, July-6(Empty Bowls), 20, 27, August-3, 17, 24
- Thursday Afternoons 3-7:00 p.m. QA Farmers Mkt. at the Roots to Shoots Kids Tent June-15, 29, July-6, 20, August-3, 17, 24
What:
Thursday mornings come Gather in the Garden - Sunny Side-Up! We'll have fun learning about watering, harvesting, bug identification, plant identification, pollinators, pressing flowers, playing games, singing songs, playing instruments, making sun prints, using tools safely and general garden maintenance. The second hour we'll prepare our harvest. Some weeks participating families will be able to take home what is harvested. Other weeks participating families will have an opportunity to deliver and sell, for a suggested donation, at the QA Farmer's Mkt. Roots to Shoots Kids Tent. See specific dates above and sign-up here to participate! Yeah!! Very exciting and we hope that you will sign up for this as it's such a great opportunity to see how the full circle of food production works. It's a rewarded experience for our students as well!
Cost: Free
Who: All QAE students, families and friends. This is not a drop off program. 1 adult per 3 children is required.
Some Background:
Most of the food grown in the garden this year has been initiated through Whole Foods Grant that was awarded the QAE Garden and it's QAE Cultural Garden Program. The plants were stared as seeds indoors under grow lights located int eh Tree House. All teachers were asked to participate. Those who could afford the time and had the student interest were the following classes:
- Cryan-Leary
- Marks
- Shaw
- Colando
Summer Gardening Watering and Harvest - please sign-up to help!
Who: All QAE students, families and friends
What: Help make sure our garden is well watered and harvested. There will be opportunity for you to learn the basic watering procedures. Helpful signage will be in the garden for you to reference about watering and harvesting. What ever you harvest you can bring home to eat or drop off at the garden coordinators house where it will be taken to the QA Farmer's Mkt. or taken to a food bank.
Where: QAE Cultural Garden
When: June - August
Why: We live in a place where there is a drought from July - September most years. It's important to hydrate our garden three times a week during this time. It's important to harvest ripe fruit. If it falls on the ground it will attract unwanted pests, insects and rodents. Our garden is a gift and here is an opportunity for our community to care for it. You and your students' involvement help create future stewards.
- Sunday Mornings before 11 a.m. for Garden Watering June-4, 11, 18, 25, July-2, 9, 16, 23, 30 August-6, 13, 20, 27
- Tuesday Mornings before 11 a.m. for Garden Watering June-6, 13, 20, 27 July-3, 10, 17, 24, 31 August-1, 8, 15, 22, 29
General Garden Training and Tours: For any adult, family, faculty member who wishes to know how to orientate yourself in the garden, where to find tools, some basic care guidelines and basic guidelines for working with students in the garden as well as plant identification. Half hour long.
When:
Saturday, June 17 at 9:00 a.m.
Monday, June 19 at 8:00 a.m.
Tuesday, June 20 at 2:30 p.m.
*~*~*~* Sign-Up Here! *~*~*~* Sigh-Up Here! *~*~*~* Sign-Up Here! *~*~*~* Sigh-Up Here! *~*~*~* Sign-Up Here! *~*~*~*
Empty Bowls Ceramics Event - Help Fight Child Hunger This Summer
Where: QAE Garden
When: Thursday July 6, 9:00 - 12p.m.
What: Students will create ceramic bowls in the garden with teacher Sandra Farmer who is also a volunteer and parent at QAE. There is enough supplies for 15 students.
Who: Any QAE student, faculty, friend or family
Why: In Washington State only 11% of children who receive free and reduced cost meals during the school year are accessing free summer meal programs. There is a huge gap where there are either too few summer meal sites or located too far away. The families in these areas are typically considered high-need and are most likely also utilizing their local food bank. We want to leverage this point of access for kids. - See more at Northwest Harvest Kids Summer Food Club Where we send the donations we receive!
Cost: Suggested donation of $15 Pre-registration is required. Pay-pal at andrea_delarosa@msn.com
*~*~*~* Register Here! *~*~*~* Register Here! *~*~*~* Register Here! *~*~*~* Register Here! *~*~*~* Register Here! *~*~*~*
The basic idea for Empty Bowls is straightforward. Rather then soup and bread we may have students harvest a summer salad from the garden!
- Participants create ceramic bowls, then usually serve a simple meal of soup and bread.
- Guests choose a bowl to keep as a reminder that there are always Empty Bowls in the world.
- In exchange for a meal and the bowl, the Guest contributes a recommended minimum donation.
- The Meal Sponsor selects a hunger-fighting organization to receive the collected donations.
- Any organization fighting hunger qualifies.
- All funds raised under the name of Empty Bowls must be used for fighting hunger.
Empty Bowls began in 1990 as an art class project in a Michigan high school to raise funds for a food drive. Students made ceramic bowls, served a meal of soup and bread, and invited guests to keep the bowl as a reminder of hunger in the world.
By the following year the organizers had developed this idea into the Empty Bowls Project and established the imagine Group, a 501(c)3 organization designed to promote the concept.
Since its inception, this simple project has evolved into a far-reaching program providing support for food banks, soup kitchens, and other organizations that fight hunger. Empty Bowls events have been held throughout the world, raising millions of dollars for use in combating hunger. See The Clay Connection and Seattle Empty Bowls FB Page to find out more.
End of Year Garden Work Party & Potluck - RSVP Here
Who: QAE Community, families, students, staff, faculty and friends
What: A little work, a lot of play! It's a labor of love and gratitude. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! You and your families are invited to come hang, eat, drink and be merry. BYOB and dish to share. We'll provide the BBQ, S'mores, Coolers, Music and open our home for a gathering space (although small, it will be cozy).
Where: QAE Garden and The Hildebrandt Home located at 510 W Galer St, Seattle 98119
When: Saturday, June 24 10:00- 12:00 @ QAE Garden Potluck immediately to follow
Why: As our Seattle summer turns into drought-like weather, typically, July into September, the wood chips and hay will keep the soil moist and prevent it from turning into plots of dust. It will be a good way to indicate appropriate walking paths and put nutrients back into the soil as it decomposes over the coming seasons. Cool! Out of gratitude for the garden, our school community, the work our students have done and everyone that has helped in the garden, we want to gather in recognition of it all. Evan if you haven't had a change to help in the garden but are happy for it's existence and our community please come and celebrate!
Earth Week/Month at QAE!
I've worked hard and happily, with a few other parents, Mrs. Roy, teachers and community members to bring this time of year alive for QAE. We've put together a fun week/month! Earth Day is Saturday, April 22. Arbor Day is Friday, April 28.
Two guests during lunch/recess for the students to meet.
Location is somewhere between the lunch room and gym portable depending on weather.
*Tuesday the 18th - During Lunch/Recess the students can meet Faye Thornburgh from The National Wildlife Federation, Seattle office. She is the education coordinator and also an Americorp Member. She excited to introduce the Eco Schools Program with students and teachers. http://www.nwf.org/Eco-Schools-USA.aspx
Please encourage your students to visit her table set up to share children's books about wind, solar, hydro and geothermal energy sources and pick up a FREE Ranger Rick Magazines to take home!
*Thursday the 20th - Megan Carson will talk about Earth Day, growing food, plants and recycling through a simple project with sunflower seeds. She traveling from Bainbridge Island. http://islandwood.org Please encourage your students to visit her in or near the gym portable. If they want to plant a sunflower seed ask students to rinse out their milk cartons and bring it to Megan. There will be extra cartons there too if they forget. She will do "Secret of a Seed" with the kids. I think all ages will be interested but especially the younger grades. After I have done seed germination with K-2, it's so clear that they LOVE planting seeds and would really like this short, easy and simple project. I would hate for them to miss this. I'm sure they will love taking it home to show their families too!!
*Wednesday the 19th - Gather is the Garden is having a guest speaker! Thank you to parent Mary Rae, (kiddo Collin in 1st grade) Gardening Grandma Bonnie Hedmen from the Seattle Community Pea Patch association, is bringing the world of pollinators to any student who can attend and is interested. Bonnie is also going to do a seed art project. We are lucky to have her be part of our week! Please encourage your students to attend. 2:15-3:30 in the garden. If it's raining it will be inside Mrs. Marks room.
Friday the 21st - Peonies and Bake Sale - Ms. Teske will be set up in the Garden selling Peonies after school on Friday! Peonies vary in price by size and rarity, and cost anywhere from $20-$80. Cash and checks are accepted. You may purchase through the website too: www.rarepeonies.com Be sure to type QAE next to your first name if you order online. Funds raised will go toward garden related spring, summer and early fall projects and school field trips.
All School Assembly
Monday the 24th @ 8:00 a.m.
Jane Valencia from the Seattle Storytellers Guild works with students in school and in outdoor settings. She'll connect students to the Earth through her story telling. She's very excited to be our guest! It's wonderful that all of our students will have an opportunity to experience this!
On going....through out the week / month
Video links: I'm putting together a list of video links for Mrs. Roy to share at lunch times that revolve around environmental stewardship and Earth Day.
*What I can do for our Earth: Students may be handing in a paper to you that states how they can help our Earth be healthy. I or another parent will come to pick them up through out the week(s) and then post them in the lunch room. This is an experiment and will depend on how many parents see the link through FB, the website or classroom parent updates.
Other exciting activities around school and the neighborhood
- The Gather in the Garden students are creating a movie based on, Story of a Seed Lisa Taylor's book. This is a story we have read in GG a few times. We would like to show it at lunch hour, on the website and on FB. It's attached if you would like to read it. It's very short.
- Elizabeth Arzani is using her talents with students to help create prayer flags and decorate the stepping stones to add to the garden.
- The first plants of QAE Cultural Garden will be planted outside on Thursday or Friday. I would like to get the 4th, 2nd and Kindergarten classes who are currently germination seeds to plant outside together and will connect with those teachers directly. If you are a teacher or parent who currently is not involved but would like to just let me know!
- In the library there is a section featuring only some Earth Day and Arbor Day books Mr. Jeffery has...there are so many more...how lucky are we!
- This week a journalist from Queen Anne Magnolia News may be printing a piece about our Garden and the Whole Foods Grant we received!
Gather in the Garden is excited to announce the beginnings of the QAE Cultural Garden this March! With the help of a recent grant our garden crew was awarded,....applause, applause!.... we will be able to purchase an indoor growing kit to start germination of seeds. The seeds growing were determined by favorite food stories that many of our QAE students have shared.
Keep a look out for for the fun! Fall, Spring and Summer work parties/events happen, don't miss them!
Volunteers Wanted
Everyone and anyone who:
- wishes to meet more of the QAE community
- likes to lend a hand
- interested in growing plants on any level
- feels that a school garden is important
Garden Educators/Docents:
The QAE Garden is looking for anyone with interest in all or some of the following duties: assist in a casual and creative teaching setting on Wednesdays after school, enjoys concepts of horticulture, earth science, art, crafting, being creative, fun and messy with small groups of children, consistent participation on a team that meets, plans and coordinates regular school wide educational events and celebrations in the garden through out the school year and summer months. Experience in these area is helpful but not necessary. Please connect with the Garden Coordinator at garden1@qaeptsa.org.
Donated Items Needed
The gardening team could use donations of any of the following: pruning shears, bulb planters, large or medium plastic yogurt containers with lids, masking tape or painters tape, newspaper and brown paper grocery bags, wooden stakes and sting/twine, clipboards, rain gauges. If you are interested in donating any of these or have other gardening items that you think would be useful, please contact Andrea directly at garden1@qaeptsa.org.
Upcoming Events
Raising Kids in Permaculture - Kid's Gardening Class
Sunday, March 12th, 11am - 12pm, City People's Garden Store, 2939 E Madison St, Seattle
Learn how to foster young learning and curiosity in a home permaculture garden with Jeremy Puma. Foraging edible foods, planting seeds and learning about the outdoor world are a few ways that the Puma family has strengthened their bond to nature and each other. Jeremy will focus on how to incorporate garden tasks into the family routine and teach skills for life in the process. This workshop is co-sponsored by City Fruit.
Spring Garden Work Party
Sunday, March 26th, 11am - 2pm, QAE Garden
If you haven't noticed, the garden soil has been trampled on by many smaller human feet. This does not help our garden grow. A discussion of solutions will take place this day. We'll also install some garden beds to see if this helps. So, bring your hammers, nails and any extra shelving materials and hooks you might have to donate. We'll be using this material to organize our garden shed. We need all the help we can get! Please come! As they say, many hands make light work. Besides, the forecast says fun in sun. There will be a drawing for two tickets to the Seattle Children's Theater and you never know you might be lucky enough to find some treasure buried in the compost! Come and have fun. There will be refreshments and snacks.
RSVP is appreciated: garden1@qaeptsa.org
Earth Day
In preparation for celebrating Earth Day which is Saturday, April 22nd; we are asking for volunteers to help with our plant sale and more activities that will take place during the school week leading up to Earth Day. Contact Andrea if you'd like to help!
Some Favorite Links -
http://www.skynursery.com/wp-content/themes/skynursery/docs/Jr._Gardeners/jrG_news_2017_spring_w.pdf
http://farmersalmanac.com/
http://www.seattletilth.org/
http://www.oxbow.org/
http://www.rare.peonies.com
Videos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DsxIkh0YEo
http://pbskids.org/video/sid-science-kid/1872446223
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2V_6jLmT_Fg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWLxREoPJ4w
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcLbiC5gE6w
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOOKQimko4M
Past Events - How did it go?
Gather in the Garden "winter style," November - March
Shoutin' out to Mrs. Marks! We are so grateful for her sharing her classroom with us after school. We are so grateful for a warm place, to share snacks, hear new stories, plant bulbs, make our own water cycles, string popcorn garland, sing with the drum and paste together our visions! Whoot! We're ready to get outside now that the sun is out making longer days for us to gather in the garden.
Garden Work Party, Nov 19th
All I can say is that we came, had fun, we dug, we cut, we hulled, had pizza, got a little crafty and worked hard!! We had enough people to get the job done and that is awesome! There is still some compost left over. Yes! There is a plan for it. No! It doesn't include having students climb and play all over it. Then again, what does one expect of our amazing, creative, strong spirited students. Play on I say! It won't be there forever but special thank you to those who monitor the playground. You keep not only our students safe but look out for the garden and the rest of the grounds as well. It will be exciting to see the bulbs pop up in the spring. We planted a "mystery" mix donated by one of the day of garden crew. Pics will be posted soon. I am hoping that there is another good turn out at the next Garden Gathering. Stay tuned for date and time!
Pumpkin Carving in the Garden, October 16th
Our very first Gather in the Garden event 2016 went really well! All it take is a few families to come out and it's a party! Tons of fun was had despite the rain. We learned about pumpkin seeds, how to keep your jack-o'lanterns from rotting so quickly, what critters live among us and how to make a pumpkin bird feeder. We shared, carving tools, donuts, coffee, warm apple cider, marsh mellows, laughs and memories. Thank you to everyone who came out! To RSVP for future events and for any garden questions connect with Andrea at garden1@qaeptsa.org.
Photos below: Spring Work Party and "Spring Breakin' it in the Garden" painting and stenciling oak barrels and garden boxes for tee-pea tents and cool weather plantings, GG "Winter Style" first and second graders making winter garland, seeds and berries! Thank you to our neighborhood businesses for donating compost and garden supplies this fall. More GG "Winter Style" planting paperwhites for winter bloooms indoors and using rosemary & lavender cuttings from the garden for decoration. Exploring the great book; The Living Sunlight and drawing the energy cycle. Pumpkin carving weekend gathering. Our Fall afternoon collecting Echinacea and many cone flower seeds. Photo Credit: Christa Winquist and Amy Pratt
