Hello everyone! Spring continues to fly by in Garden class...we're soaking up as much fun and learning as we can before we part ways for the summer! Week 6 we took a closer look at the importance and process of pollination, discovering more about who our local pollinators are. We played a hands on pollination game to explore how bees communicate and work together to support their communities. We also celebrated Cinco de Mayo in class with a batch of "Agua de Jamaica," which is a type of juice or infusion made from Hibiscus flowers, enjoyed in Mexico and areas of the Caribbean. We added in honey, to celebrate both aspects of pollination! Week 7 our class focused on service learning projects in the garden, such as planting, weeding, and harvesting the abundance. We also began a larger project: building Mason bee houses for our backyards and school garden. Students started with a plain block of Fir, and worked hard to create functional and beautiful bee houses. Mason bees are a vital part of our local pollinator community, and as solitary bees are very gentle and non-territorial, making them the perfect pollinator to invite into our home gardens. More info about Mason bees and caring for Mason bee houses can be found at the links below: http://portlandnursery.com/products/masonbees.shtml http://www.xerces.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/nests_for_native_bees_fact_sheet_xerces_society.pdf Week 8 we began a new, two-week project of creating our very own GAP cookbooks to take home and share with our families. Over the past year together, students have created a number of delicious recipes in class utilizing fresh, seasonal produce. Some of our class favorites, such as pea pesto and garden pickles will make this cookbook really special. One last note - a quick reminder to GAP families: we will be having a short but sweet potluck on Wednesday, June 8th from 5-6pm. Students will be showcasing some homegrown and homemade garden snacks, and sharing some experiences from their time in GAP. Please join us! My best, Brynna
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November 2019
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