Rosemary can be used for cooking chicken, pork, fish as well as vegetables dishes. In ancient Greece, rosemary was used to strengthen memory and it became popular among students and they began wearing sprigs of Rosemary in their hair.
To introduce the flavor of this wonderful herb, we steep some in hot water, then let it cool off before drinking.

While we waited, the kids made their own tea bags to share with their families.

-Immature plants follow the sun to fuel their rapid growth

-Sunflowers  are actually many flowers in one called composite flowers

-Mammoth sunflowers can grow up to 25 feet!

-Sunflower Butter is delicious and more nutritious than Peanut butter

We also learned about the sunflower’s life cycle and how it uses the sun’s energy to make its own food.  Before the end of the plant’s life, the sunflower sends all its remaining stored energy to its next generation…its seeds!

We got to taste these protein packed seeds and also had sunflower butter with fresh celery.

Sunflower Seedling

The Ramona garden has a beautiful lavender bush that is in need of a good pruning, so we took advantage of this task and talked to the kids about how to care for this perennial.  We also discussed all the  uses of this wonderful fragrant herb especially how it can be made into a delicious tea!

After pruning the lavender, we made stuffed small satchels with small pieces of the leaves and flower buds.

A scoop of rice finished off the fragrant packages. The rice will absorb the essential oils of the lavender.
After the activity, the children sipped the lavender tea we made being careful to breath in the lovely aroma.

We certainly sent back to class a fragrant, relaxed and calm group! Hope they didn’t all fall asleep!

When we planted swiss chard seedlings at the Queen Anne Elementary garden in December, the kids had no idea what to expect.  They’ve been amazed at how big these plants have grown and how large a leaf it creates.  But the best surprise whas how good it tastes!  This is one of their favorite snacks, especially when we tear it up and add it to our salads.  The kids learned about the high amounts of Vitamin A in swiss chard which helps keep our eyes healthy.  And they love the bright colored stems.  A superfood for sure.

Garden Party!

At the beginning of the 6 week rotation, the third grade class was divided into 5 groups to represent each of the garden beds. The students were in charge of taking care of their garden beds during class time by making sure there were no weeds growing, checking each plant to make sure they had enough water, if there were any bugs and charting what was growing. On their 5th class, students were assigned to make a menu based off of what was growing in their garden bed. We combined the menus to make one meal for their 6th and final class. The menu was divided up and each group was in charge of making part of the menu. We had Lemonade made with stevia and mint, garden tacos made with a collard green “taco shell” filled with vegetables grown in the garden and tossed with lemon, olive oil and a little salt. For dessert, strawberries and little chocolate. Thank you 3rd graders for the tasty treat!

Evidently, it’s not unusual to see monarchs laying eggs in Southern California in late winter, but we were all very surprised to see them in the Alta Loma garden.   So many, that we dubbed this particular raised bed our “Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary”  (sign forthcoming!).  At least three classes got to take chrysalis’ back to their classrooms for observation.  Like everything else in winter, chrysalis’ take longer to emerge due to the cold, but when they did, the kids were very excited.  Among other things, they tried to determine if they were male or female by the spots on their wings, measured the wing spans, and took note of how long it took for them to take flight.

This new hatchling got attached to our little garden fairy

Diggin’ the soil and gettin’ buggy at Angeles Mesa Elementary School

So much excitement the students enjoyed at 42nd Street Elementary School

Audubon Middle School students move and chant in sync as they learn the important parts of plants as if they were plants themselves! While others examine and tuck tender seeds into the ground.