Seed Sowing 101

Hello!  Welcome to seed sowing 101.  This is your first class in how to grow some tasty food.  Today we will be sowing Zucchini seeds.  Let's get started!

Containers to grow seeds comes in all types. 

  Can you name the ones in the picture?

*The Answers are at the bottom of this post.

Whatever container you choose, make sure it is clean AND there is a drainage hole in the bottom.  Ask an adult to help you poke holes in your containers if they don't have them.

Add Potting soil.  It is best to use potting soil from the store because it is clean and doesn't have bad bacteria or pest eggs in it.  The bags come in all sizes.  Fill your container with DAMPENED soil.  Leave a bit of space at the top for your seed.

Today we will be sowing zucchini.  Along with certain other squashes and pumpkins, the zucchini belongs to the species Cucurbita pepo. It can be dark or light green. A related hybrid, the golden zucchini, is a deep yellow or orange color.

Which type of squash will you choose?

Choose which zucchini you are going to grow.  Place 1 seed on top of the soil in each container.  

 (if you need seeds, comment below, we have HUNDREDS of seed packets to give away.)

After you place your seeds on top of your soil in your container cover them with a small amount of soil.  About 1/4-1/2 inch deep.  Be sure to give them a pat to put them to sleep.

Why do we cover the seeds with soil?

Give your seed containers a final drink, make sure water drips out the bottom.  Enlarge the hole if need be so the water drains through.  You don't want your seeds swimming!  Place your seed containers in a bright spot.  A window works well

How long do you think it will take for your seeds to sprout?

Which container will work best for seed starting and why?

You're all done!  

Sheldon our class pet is proud of you!  

Check out his bio on his very own Sheldon page listed to the right.

Next Friday we will check on on our seedlings to see how they are growing.  Happy Gardening!

*Commercial 6 pack, Avocado shell, Applesauce cup, Rock wool, Egg shell, Kurig cup 

 How many did you get right?

Despite the weather, the chores must be done

This week marks 4 weeks untill the last average frost date in our region.  Gardeners gauge their chores by the calendar and scheduling chores in reference to the Last Average Frost Date is the best way to make plans.

The following graph shows the AVERAGE last frost date of February 3rd for 97415.  We who have lived here for more than a couple of years know....best to err on the safe side.  With so many varied micro-climates (Chetco River, Gardner Ridge, Ocean Side, sheltered town, exposed ridges) go with April 15 - 25 to be safe.  I remember a year when we had snow on Memorial Day.  I believe that was 2007.

The AMAZING thing is check out the number of freeze-free days a year.  334.  That means we can grow a 4 season garden.  Let's get started on chores for this week.  Remember, Science, Art, Math and Language Arts (Latin) can be incorporated into your school age students classes.  Take them outside and get your hands in the soil!

Seed Sowing Indoors: (most of these seeds are available from the Chetco Seed Library)
Tomatoes
Peppers
Lettuce, chard, kale, endive
Cabbage
Peas
Brussels Sprout
Broccoli
Cauliflower
Basil
Leeks (seed)
Onions (seeds)

Plant out (greenhouse or in ground if it can be worked) 
Potatoes  
Garlic
Peas
Carrots

Chores:
*  Build raised beds where soils are poor
*  Start incorporating organic matter, wood ash, compost into beds to prepare for planting
*  Spade under cover crops if you planted them last fall
*  Divide Rhubarb crowns to share or replant elsewhere
*  Start a compost pile 

As the weeks unfold and hopefully the weather cooperates the work we do now in our gardens will pay off with AMAZING home grown food.  Happy Gardening!

Harbor, OR (97415)

Nearest Station: BROOKINGS 2 SE, OR

Last Frost Date: February 3

First Frost Date: January 4

You have at least 334 freeze-free days in a year.

To show the dates above, we use probability level of 50% and frost temperature of 32°F. If you want to start your garden earlier in the spring with a higher risk of frost, or later with a lower risk, use the following table:

Last Frost Date

°F	90%	50%	10%
36°	Mar 5	Apr 4	May 3
32°	-	Feb 3	Mar 22
28°	-	-	Jan 22

First Frost Date

°F	10%	50%	90%
36°	Nov 7	Dec 2	Dec 27
32°	Nov 21	Jan 4	-
28°	Dec 30	-	-

Data provided by the National Centers for Environmental Information.

Probability level (90%, 50%, 10%) is the chance of the temperature to go below the threshold after the last frost date or before the first frost date. Using a lower probability means you have lower risk of unexpected forst damage but shorter gardening days in a year. Empty cells indicate very small to zero chance of frost.

Fun Outdoor Scavenger Hunt

Daily Dose of Nature

At Home, in Yard Scavenger Hunt

Look for these items around the outside of your house.  If you have a garden look in your garden, if you have a backyard look there.   If you don’t have a yard, no worries, go for a walk with an adult to look for these items found outside.   

1. A tall flower
2. Piece of Bark
3. A bug
4. A piece of trash
5. A weed
6. Something that smells good 
7. A stick
8. A purple flower
9. A yellow flower
10. A grassy plant
11. 5 leaves that look different 
12. A rock with spots on it
13. Something that is heavy 
14. Something very light 
15. Something that needs sun to live
16. An item smaller than your thumb
17. Something that starts with “M”
18. Something that makes you smile

Make Sure Everything gets put back where it belongs!  
Please post a comment below with what you found!

Happy Spring Break!

Hello! My name is Lynette McPherson and I am the Garden Manager for Brookings Harbor School District. I have the coolest job in town!  I get to engage with students and help them learn how to grow their own food as they spend time in the school gardens.  We educate and guide as we are outside having fun learning about nature, pollinators, science, art and literature.

Weekly here is what you can expect to see on this site.

Monday - Our Farm to School Garden Nutrition Educator, Iya Maham will be posting an activity that you can do right at home with your students.  The majority of these activities align with Oregon State Standards and come us to from Oregon Ag In the Classroom.  Sometimes it will be a video, she will read a book or provide detailed lesson plans.

Tuesday/Wednesday - Lynette will be posting weekly to do lists.  This is prime growing season here on the Oregon Coast and it’s time to get outside and grow some food!  These lists will include garden maintenance and suggestions on general gardening activities.

Friday - Lynette will be posting a weekly what to sow/grow now list.  With her 45+ years of growing a family/farmer’s market garden she has decades of information.  Questions are welcomed!

In addition, Lynette manages the Chetco Community Seed Library.  Thought the Chetco Public Library has closed down the seed library is available to everyone.  Starting the week after Spring Break Iya and Lynette will be back in the school gardens.  You can comment below what seeds you need and Lynette will have them for you at the High School next to your student’ food pick up at the High School cafeteria.  She will also have a limited supply of pre packaged seeds which will match the weekly what to sow/grow list.  These will be available for pick up also.

So let’s get started.  Though the weather outside is not cooperating for our outside gardens, we can still garden inside.  As you can see below I’m growing microgreens on my bookcase!  How cool is that?  I’ll be posting Friday how to do this in your own home!

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