September Promise

On Labor Day we begin to sniff the air for any possible hint of cooler weather or even the idea of drier air. And we are always disappointed. So we entertain ourselves with watching the river rise, bringing with it lots of small fish and frogs that attract jubilees of ibis in the growing swamp. The deer and other critters have been leaping out of their flooded habitats and come closer than usual to our house. Even the wild pigs spent a night of it, rooting up the dirt just outside the fence.

The hummingbirds have left right on schedule. One day they were there in force at our five feeders, and the next day they were gone to Mexico. The dregs of the nectar now attracts zebra long wing butterflies and ants.

Days are getting shorter and soon we'll not have to mow the lawn. The beds for the fall garden are ready and just today Quincy, the seven year old grandson who lives here part time, planted a row of sugar snap peas in the planter next to where I have already put in broccoli seedlings. I know it's early, but so far, in many years, I know that judicious planting after Labor Day pays off (despite what the books and the Master Gardeners say).

Months ago, several of us from our local garden club applied for a grant from Whole Foods to make a school garden. We got the grant and began to plan for this garden next to probably the poorest elementary school in the state of Florida. (96% of the kids are on reduced or free school lunches) This area is definitely a 'Food Desert'. The school administration was enthusiastic.

We bought planter beds and garden soil and spent several sweaty days constructing everything and heaving the dirt. We bought the hoses and timers and tools and seeds.

The staff at school seemed positive about the idea of having this garden.

Yesterday, earlier than we had thought, the seedlings of broccoli and collards came on the market. So tomorrow is planting day! I have one second grade on board. And then I think that teacher by teacher, we'll have every child participating in this interesting hands-on project. I imagine huge collards, tons of broccoli, peppers, tomatoes, beans, carrots! I imagine evenings with families when we cook those veggies. I imagine parents taking home pots of vegetable seedlings they can care for at home.

I am not long on lecturing and talking about nutrition and good eating. Little kids just need to do it! We have every hope that parents will help out and make this their hang-out place after school. A good friend has volunteered to do all the translating so that the bulletin board and all the signs will be both in Spanish and English.

This project is about making a whole curriculum and dragging people into it. I believe so ardently that growing good food to eat is the key to health, that all the work is worth it.

Tomorrow I will go early to the school garden to set up the hoses and watering system. We have the hoses and timers and garbage cans of weak fertilizer solution, tools, gloves, signs, watering cans. When you work with a group of kids you need to have everything ready to go, no fumbling and waiting.

This period of planting the garden and educating the teachers and arranging everything is the hardest. Many folks have said they would help, and I am sure they will. (If only I would call or email each of them individually multiple times.)

But this grandma doesn't have all the energy I used to have. I worry about this first month when we have to get every class on board.

I think of this month when I must fly to various places to visit two sets of twins - family business! Will I have those someones who can coordinate this school garden?

The vision of many children growing food, having fun digging in the dirt and finding who knows what, and learning much more than is in the FCAT curriculum keeps me going and loading the truck with garden supplies for tomorrow.