Carrots, Cucumbers, Dill and Chives

About a week ago, we planted bell pepper seeds in peat strip cups and left them to germinate on the classroom windowsill. The seedlings are just beginning to peek their little green heads out of the soil. With all that anticipation happening, we just couldn't help ourselves, so today, we put Red Cored Chantenay carrots, Spacemaster Bush Cucumbers, and Dill and Chives seeds in our newly dug garden outside the classroom door. 

Over the last week and a half, several students gladly "gave up" their thirty minute recess time to dig in the dirt, to hoe and rake out the clumps of grass and roots that lingered, and to help to work in the castings from the worm bin to enrich the soil.  It's been difficult work because the space we chose for its many hours of direct sunshine and proximity to the garden hose, was also filled with tough, rootsy grass!  I'm sure some arms and backs have been a little achy lately! 

Since our winter has been rather chilly, for typical zone 8 Florida that is, our outdoor composter has been working more slowly.  Once the temperature reaches 75 and up on a daily basis, the decomposition process will speed up.  We're grateful to some faithful students from our class and a neighboring classroom for donating their perishable scraps! 

We'll post photos as more sprouts begin to appear! 

Dirt!

It's been awhile since we've been involved with the garden for several reasons, not the least of which is the temperature! Even though we're in Florida, it's been unseasonably cold, and with all the freezes, it didn't seem sensible to be planting things when the plants all around us were dying. It has also been extremely dry.

The last few days have been sunnier, so we've been inspired to prepare the new garden plot and to get our pepper seedlings going.