Apart from my little entry a moment ago about the SIFE dinner, it feels like ages ago since i updated you all with the general progress of the project. So i will try and get you up to date without rambling too much!
Duncan and I had our second day at College Rd Primary on the 5th April, which was really just a general catch up to check they were all looking after the seed trays we planted with them in the previous workshop. It was fab to see the plants emerging, lots of Beans and Lettuces in particular! We also checked in with their researching skills as the previous homework was for the class as a whole to research a particular vegetable - i must admit i was most impressed with Foundation class, who even gave us a demonstration of how Carrots grow, and how their leafy tops wave around in the wind!
The next homework we have set the children, is for them all to draw their perfect gardens, looking at what fruit and vegetables they would like to include, whether the garden would have a certain theme or colour pallete. What insects they do and dont want to attract, and for the older children we have asked them to think about how they could include companion planting too! Lots for them to think about, however they do have the whole Easter break, until our next visit on the 28th April. I am really looking forward to the drawings we recieve!!! The winning classes drawings get to pick a fruit bush of their choice for their allotment patch!
As for my work at home, i have been making up the gardening journals for the children of gardening club - as we are aiming for this to start after Easter. I had to transplant my little Spinach and Lettuce seedlings into bigger pots as they had outgrown their allocated space in my garden and have also been trying to source more recycled wood to make planter boxes, and raised beds. Homebase have kindly said we can have some old pallets which i plan to pick up on Thursday, if i can fit them in my car! It is currently overloaded with spades and seeds, compost and wood, not to mention all the other stuff it usually houses - coats and boots etc etc.
For the moment i think that is all i have to tell, we get access to the garden in less than 3 weeks now - so the final countdown is on and Duncan and I are racing around to try and get this garden as good as it can possibly be! I won't leave it as long until i update you next, that way hopefully my ramblings will be in small bite sized, managable chunks!
Speak soon, Emma.
