{"id":267,"date":"2015-07-14T15:04:19","date_gmt":"2015-07-14T15:04:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/firstfruitsgarden.org\/?p=267"},"modified":"2015-08-06T21:22:02","modified_gmt":"2015-08-06T21:22:02","slug":"planting-watering","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/firstfruitsgarden.org\/?p=267","title":{"rendered":"Planting & Watering"},"content":{"rendered":"

Planting the Garden<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Now that the garden plot in designed, it is time to plant!<\/span><\/p>\n

First, a few tips:<\/span><\/p>\n

If planting seeds, a great tip is to use spice shakers for children. Simply pour the amount of seeds needed for a particular plot into a spice shaker.\u00a0 <\/span>Children can shake seeds into the soil, and this will avoid spills and dumping too much in one place.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you have the space, consider having a \u201ctest plot\u201d to demonstrate planting techniques before youth head off to plant their own plots.<\/span><\/p>\n

Three ways to outline your design in the soil prior to planting, copying their quilt square design:<\/span><\/p>\n

Use a twig, stick, or small branch to \u201cdraw\u201d the design in the soil.<\/span><\/p>\n

Draw the design by sprinkling white play sand.<\/span><\/p>\n

Use carefully placed pebbles, gravel, or small stones to create the outlines of your shapes.<\/span><\/p>\n

Second, demonstrate:<\/span><\/p>\n

Show the angle to hold the shaker so that seeds come out easily.<\/span><\/p>\n

Demonstrate different kinds of shaking and have a conversation about what appears to be too light, too hard, and just right<\/span><\/p>\n

Show how to take handfuls of spare soil and sprinkle it over newly planted seeds.<\/span><\/p>\n

Some seeds need to be planted rather than sprinkled on top of the soil.\u00a0 <\/span>Show how to lay seed, such as nasturtiums, spaced on top of the soil, then push them gently into the soil.<\/span><\/p>\n

Show the correct way to plant veggie plants (if doing so) – how big to dig hole, how to place plant roots, how to sprinkle soil over newly planted plant, etc.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Third, Watering tips:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Watering a newly planted salad garden can be tricky.\u00a0 <\/span>Lots of tiny seeds are sitting on or just below the soil surface.\u00a0 <\/span>A gush of water will send them cascading far from where they were planted.\u00a0 <\/span>You may want to do a demo on a spare patch of bare soil.<\/span><\/p>\n

Use a watering can or an adjustable water wand on the gentlest setting, demonstrating holding it high and slowly moving it back and forth to avoid puddles.<\/span><\/p>\n

THINNING YOUR GARDEN<\/span><\/p>\n

A fun way to teach how to thin your garden is to have a TASTE TEST!\u00a0 <\/span>Once you garden is well\u2010established, and the children have the routines of watering and weeding established, they will wonder WHEN CAN WE EAT?\u00a0 <\/span>A lot of times many tiny seeds usually creates too many seedlings in a small space. Removing the excess seedlings, called thinning, allows enough room for the remaining plants to grow.\u00a0 <\/span>While you\u2019re thinning, allow kids to taste!\u00a0 <\/span>Rather than tossing the thinned seedlings on the compost pile, run a taste test to check out the flavors and other qualities of the veggies.<\/span><\/p>\n

First assess the gardens to determine which lettuces and greens need thinning.<\/span><\/p>\n

Make a chart listing the variety names, as well as the names of the youth in the group.<\/span><\/p>\n

Decide on a rating system. You can rate each on a scale of 1 to 5, give a thumbs up or thumbs down, use different versions of smiley faces, or use an \u201cicky,\u201d \u201cok,\u201d or \u201cyum\u201d rating.<\/span><\/p>\n

Rate greens one variety at a time. Taste, share your ratings one by one, and record on the chart.<\/span><\/p>\n

Have water on hand to drink in between tastes.<\/span><\/p>\n

Save your ratings chart and repeat the taste test at harvest time. Has anyone\u2019s opinion changed? Has the taste of some greens improved or declined with time?<\/span><\/p>\n

Next >><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Planting the Garden Now that the garden plot in designed, it is time to plant! First, a few tips: If planting seeds, a great tip is to use spice shakers for children. Simply pour the amount of seeds needed for a particular plot into a spice shaker.\u00a0 Children can shake seeds into the soil, and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":396,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-267","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/firstfruitsgarden.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/element-e1438896004629.jpeg?fit=576%2C270","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p60iPd-4j","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":263,"url":"http:\/\/firstfruitsgarden.org\/?p=263","url_meta":{"origin":267,"position":0},"title":"Planning & Designing","author":"Beth Harlin","date":"July 14, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Planning One fun way to decide what to plant is draw a garden mural.\u00a0 \u00a0Hang a big piece of craft paper on a wall labeled \u201cWhat I want in the garden.\u201d\u00a0 Children then draw and write their ideas for the garden. Once you have a list of what you want\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/firstfruitsgarden.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/element-e1438896004629.jpeg?fit=576%2C270&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/firstfruitsgarden.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/element-e1438896004629.jpeg?fit=576%2C270&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/firstfruitsgarden.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/element-e1438896004629.jpeg?fit=576%2C270&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":498,"url":"http:\/\/firstfruitsgarden.org\/?p=498","url_meta":{"origin":267,"position":1},"title":"Welcome","author":"Beth Harlin","date":"January 5, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"First Fruits Garden (FFG) is an outreach program originating from Avon Christian Church, and is designed to encourage community gardens to grow, produce, and cultivate a sharing spirit. The FFG model encourages garden growers to donate 10 percent of their produce to local food pantries, in reference to the idea\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"MamaRootHalf_sign","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/firstfruitsgarden.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/MamaRootHalf_sign-300x202.png?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":274,"url":"http:\/\/firstfruitsgarden.org\/?p=274","url_meta":{"origin":267,"position":2},"title":"Garden Organization","author":"Beth Harlin","date":"July 15, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Each gardener must provide his\/her own items such as seeds, plants, and tools (carry-in, carry-out) Water\/rain barrels will be provided to supplement nature\u2019s Watering cans\/jugs should be carried in by gardeners. Respect each person\u2019s garden. We are asking that 10% of your produce be donated to your local food pantry.\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":250,"url":"http:\/\/firstfruitsgarden.org\/?p=250","url_meta":{"origin":267,"position":3},"title":"Carolyn’s Letter","author":"Beth Harlin","date":"July 13, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Dear Friends, As Christians, we find we are taught to plant ourselves in the faith and grow in the fruit of the spirit. \u00a0Throughout his ministry, Jesus used seeds, plants, vines, and sowers as metaphors to teach us the lessons of the kingdom.\u00a0 When a member of our congregation came\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"2013-07-15 08.09.35","src":"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/firstfruitsgarden.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/2013-07-15-08.09.35-e1428272816293-150x150.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":270,"url":"http:\/\/firstfruitsgarden.org\/?p=270","url_meta":{"origin":267,"position":4},"title":"Harvesting","author":"Beth Harlin","date":"July 14, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Harvesting Lettuce and greens harvesting tips that are simple and fun: Harvest with kid-size scissors.\u00a0 It\u2019s hard to pick lettuce and greens without tearing up the roots.\u00a0 It also makes them easier to wash, since you\u2019re not pulling out soil.\u00a0 Using scissors, cut lettuces and greens just above the soil.\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/firstfruitsgarden.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/element-e1438896004629.jpeg?fit=576%2C270&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/firstfruitsgarden.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/element-e1438896004629.jpeg?fit=576%2C270&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/firstfruitsgarden.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/element-e1438896004629.jpeg?fit=576%2C270&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":336,"url":"http:\/\/firstfruitsgarden.org\/?p=336","url_meta":{"origin":267,"position":5},"title":"Cooking","author":"Beth Harlin","date":"July 30, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Growing your own community garden means that you get to plant your own food. 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