Organic Gardening Preschool Theme Your Ideas Please!

[Bella99]

I started a square foot garden last year. I'm sure it will take some trial and error, but I did well with my cherry tomatoes, bell peppers, and zucchini. This year I plan to put up a little fence Because the rabbits went to town on my lettuce and green beans! The kids love helping me go out and tend to the garden!

Dehydrated coyote/fox/wolf urine. Keeps the bunnies away

(I used to have a bunny, and my own garden was eaten by wild rabbits, so I researched what to use but also be able to allow my bun outside. They hate the smell, so they'll stay away)

[smb757]

Thanks! I'll have to look into that! I did brush my cats and put their loose fur on my garden, not sure if that actually helped because it was way after the fact.

[melskids]

my grandfather used to hang bars of irish spring soap (the original green ones) in the garden. He swore it worked to keep the animals out.

He also hung empty pie tins. They bang against the pole and scare animals away.

You can also stick pinwheels in the ground. The vibrations the pinwheel sends through the ground while spinning keeps moles away.

I don't know if these things TRULY work, but he had an awesome garden every year.

[SunshineMama]

Do you mean actual organic gardening or chemical and pesticide-free gardening? To actually be classified as "organic" there are all kinds of regulations and certifications you must meet.

The kids and I have planted two gardens so far, I'll try to take a pic of them to put on here. I do pesticide-free, but I do fertilize. I try to make my own compost as much as I can, but sometimes I have to add some commercial fertilizer to my big garden.

So, thoughts I had would be that you have a compost pile started ahead of time so you have some fertilizer available. Be sure to thin enough. My mistake is always trying to leave too much in too small of a space. Can't grow much in a 4X4 spot. Maybe stick to small easy-to-grow things like radishes, maybe a bean plant or two, herbs, lettuce, etc. I thought it'd be fun to have a "salad" garden - everything to make salads for the summer in one garden - and other than that, just have FUN!

I have not looked up all of the USDA guidelines, but I am gardening organic seeds in the soil and compost bin in my backyard, and I dont intend on using any pesticides. Do I don't know if that is allowed to be called "organic" gardening or if it is just pesticide free

I like the salad garden idea! That sounds like a lot of fun!

[smb757]

I don't think it matters if you're "officially" organic or not unless you're trying to sell it. :-) I know at the farmers market, there were a few farms that explained that they were basically organic, but could afford to go through the process of officially getting certified.

[daycare]

I love love love our farm days. We have plot on a farm in our town.

I take the kids once a week to maintain the crops. We have to hull the weeds every week and the kids love it. Mostly it becomes a worm digging contest, to see who can find the most worms.

Last week some of our crops were able to be picked. The lettuce this year piratically shot up out of the ground... I am hoping that this week we can pick a head or two.

I do something a little different with my lesson and I incorporate a field trip to our local grocery store. I set it up with the store manager and we get to go on a guided tour. the kids will get to see the produce truck dock into the grocery store and get unloaded. Then we go inside and the kids will get to help the produce guys stock a table or shelf of fruits or veggies. last year the kids got to dump barrels of apples into a huge container, they loved it. After we stock the shelves, I talk to the kid about the fruits and veggies that we grew. We decide which look good, we put them in bags and weight them. Each child will get to pick at least 3. Off to the register, where each child has to pay for their own. then we take it home and wash them up, cook them up and eat them.

The kids understand how their food gets to their plate, because none of them have a food garden. They also understand that because the daycare does have one, that we don't have to go to the store to buy them, we have our own on the farm.

[countrymom]

I'm horrible at growing things. But a daycare provider friend posted this, and it looks fun.

http://www.southernplate.com/2009/05/raised-bed-gardens-in-30-minutes.html

kiddy pools are super cheap this time of year. You could even do it with smaller clear rubbermaid type totes, then you can see the dirt and roots,
and have several smaller ones.

what a great idea, I think i'm going to do this.

[SunshineMama]

I don't think it matters if you're "officially" organic or not unless you're trying to sell it. :-) I know at the farmers market, there were a few farms that explained that they were basically organic, but could afford to go through the process of officially getting certified.

I'm not trying to sell anything, just want to have a fun activity with the kids and end up with some healthy food in the process

I bought some dipper gourd seeds last night at the local drug store- They look so cool! I cant wait to see how those grow!

[Countrygal]

Dehydrated coyote/fox/wolf urine. Keeps the bunnies away

(I used to have a bunny, and my own garden was eaten by wild rabbits, so I researched what to use but also be able to allow my bun outside. They hate the smell, so they'll stay away)

Do you have a good source for this?

[Countrygal]

I have not looked up all of the USDA guidelines, but I am gardening organic seeds in the soil and compost bin in my backyard, and I dont intend on using any pesticides. Do I don't know if that is allowed to be called "organic" gardening or if it is just pesticide free

I like the salad garden idea! That sounds like a lot of fun!

There are tons of regulation on being certified organic. Including how long it has been since fertilizers or pesticides have been used on the ground where your garden is, how close you are to anyone using fertilizers or pesticides and just tons of others. I can't be organic, although I was considering it because I have land that has not seen fertilizer or pesticides in over 10 years - but a cranberry marsh was built right behind my property so I will no longer qualify as organic.

Here is the USDA info on how to become certified: http://www.ers.usda.gov/Briefing/Org...tification.htm

Honestly, unless you are selling to a large market, people are going to buy naturally raised goods pretty much as easily as certified organic. The term "organically grown" is often used for people who are raising foods pesticide and fertilizer free but are not certified.

I live near the Hqtrs of Organic Valley Co-op. Here is a link to how people get started selling through them. It is not easy. http://www.organicvalley.coop/trade/certificates/