Grandma collard seed

Such a gift this week to have the school garden come together with such exuberance. The four of us from the Dade City Garden Club (aka the garden ladies) received our grant to do it in August.

With tons of help from spouses and friends we installed the raised beds, irrigation system and shoveled in the soil. We planted many seedlings and seeds with help from the kids. It was so hard getting the school staff and teachers to come out and participate.

This school has been under state supervision because its rating was a D. All the more reason it seemed to us garden ladies, to bring some joy and soul, science and good eating to this place. We prepared lessons and art activities, the kids loved the bugs and frogs they found. We had cooking groups for the vegetables we harvested.

But there was something immense missing. Seemed that the school did not care, there was no communication however hard we tried, our cooking groups often couldn't happen because the kitchen was always either locked or being used. Many times no kids showed up on schedule. We felt dismissed and unappreciated. We were dispirited. But always, we regrouped to try something else. We knew that these folks at this school were fearful and anxious and we knew also that this garden project could be great.

We admired the garden so burgeoning with produce, a field of fluffy green and tons of flowers, many butterflies. No problem with growing stuff! We invited and cajoled everyone at school to pick the harvest, take it home to eat. It was hard. We went to the garden and no sign of anyone harvesting anything. Gradually, a few classes began to pick collards and broccoli and carrots. We encouraged the kids to just eat beans and peapods off the vines.

Keeping on, we invited parents and teachers and community members to come and learn about growing their very own earth box of what vegetables they choose. Amazing! People showed up! Kids came. It was a wonderful morning of shared work and fellowship. The school parent coordinator, the school science coach, even the principal all showed up - and it seemed they GOT IT! Many e-mails have been whizzing back and forth since then about garden issues. Kids who came to the garden confidently extracted seedlings from the nine packs and deftly inserted them into the beds.

Our broccoli plants have been trying to flower. We leave a few for the butterflies. Two lovely children who had been hanging out working in the garden all morning couldn't bear to throw the spent plants into the compost and saved a plant, sticking it into a pot. "What are you gong to do with this?" I asked. They said they were gong to give it to their teacher! As they hauled it off I called out, "Come back here and tell me how she reacted!"

Five minutes later they were back with mile wide grins. "She loves it!"

These kids and a few others loved being in the garden with a motley group of folks. They hung around as the adults talked vegetable cooking techniques and they spoke up with their own opinions. This is just the way it's spozed to be! I think that now this school has ownership of this magical place.