Even with 97 degree heat, we were at maximum capacity on the rooftop of Southeast Elementary when 20 eager 4th grade gardeners, and 22 excited and veteran 5th grade gardeners, arrived to be guided by our five intrepid South Wake Conservationists leaders in two separate gardening sessions. The students were attentive, well behaved and worked in teams, often helping out another team as needed to complete all tasks. They are well on their way to being accomplished gardeners
Together we planted fall vegetables in 16 raised beds on the roof of the school – kale, lettuce, chard, broccoli, cauliflower and bush beans. The students actively learned why and how to weed, mix in compost, create rows, fertilize, and plant each vegetable by gently removing plugs from containers or planting seeds (bush beans). Finally, there was much competition and excitement to water our new plants on this very hot day – some water may have mysteriously escaped onto hot faces:) Students learned that half of each bed is reserved for pollinator plants which were put in last spring. In fact, many of our returning 5th graders planted them!
Fingers crossed the late season intense heat may abate and students will be able to harvest a healthy crop to bring home in the later months of fall. There is a timed sprinkler providing consistent water early mornings, so that will hopefully mitigate damage caused by the heat. We will return in October to work with the students on more gardening tasks. In the interim, volunteers will return to monitor garden progress. Stay tuned for updates!
