Garden Club

Pic(s) of the Week

A 380g Japanese Sweet Potato was harvested from school and then we cut it up and then seasoned it, baked it first and then air fryer to crisp it up.  It tasted very good! 

From Emma (3B) and Matthew P (4G)

Location, Location, Location: The Great Habanero Showdown

Ever feel like your plants are playing a game of dress-up? This week, we ran a secret backyard experiment, growing habaneros in three different VIP lounges. The results? Pure comedy.

First, our Greenhouse Glamazon. Sheltered from the elements, this pepper decided it was a supermodel. It grew incredibly tall, rockin' leggy stems but absolutely zero leaf volume. Turns out, filtered light and high humidity made it stretch out to find the sun like a dramatic diva!

Next, the Outside Outdoorsman. Exposed to full sun and a stiff breeze, this one stayed short, thick, and incredibly bushy. It basically hit the gym, pumped iron against the wind, and grew a massive coat of leaves to soak up the sun.

Finally, the Teacup Terrier. Stuck in a tiny pot, this little guy looked like a perfect, miniature bonsai version of the outdoor plant. Restricted roots told the plant, "Hey, we are on a budget here," so it scaled everything down.

The Moral? Plants are master adaptors. Want height? Go greenhouse. Want bushiness? Go outside. Want a pet rock? Grab a tiny pot!

No Garden? No Problem! You Can Still Be a Plant Hero!

Guess what? You don’t need a massive backyard, a green thumb, or even a single flowerpot to be an official Junior Plant Protector! Wild trees, forest flowers, and ancient jungles all over the world need our help every single day.

By doing simple, everyday superhero moves like saving electricity at home, scrubbing your hiking boots, and being a bodyguard for local bugs you are protecting the entire planet's ecosystem! You have the power to keep the earth clean, the soil healthy, and the weather steady so wild plants everywhere can grow big and beautiful. Nature is calling, and you don't even need to get your hands muddy to answer!

The Potato Report

When harvesting your sweet potatoes, you might notice the distinct layout of your garden bed clearly showing the layers of leaves, twigs, and sticks we swept up and buried months ago. It looks like a time capsule, but it is the secret to your harvest success!

Using yard debris as a base for your sweet potato beds offers incredible hidden benefits:

• Built-in Drainage: Sweet potatoes hate soggy feet. A bottom layer of twigs and sticks creates natural air pockets, allowing heavy rain to drain away so your tubers do not rot.
• Spongy Moisture Control: As the buried leaves slowly break down, they act like a sponge, holding onto just the right amount of moisture during hot summer spells.
• Premium Soil Food: Microorganisms love munching on decomposing sticks and leaves. This active ecosystem pumps rich nutrients directly into the soil, feeding your growing potatoes.
• Perfect Soil Texture: Sweet potatoes need loose earth to expand. This organic mix keeps the soil fluffy and light instead of hard and compacted, giving your crop plenty of room to stretch out and grow plump.

When is the Garden Club?

Garden Club happens on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, right after the gates open. We meet at the bubblers on the Churchill Avenue side of the school.

Garden Club is completely FREE to join! It's a great opportunity to learn to be a lateral thinker with limited resources, get first pick after a harvest, and see some fascinating creatures.

The information shared here is based on our experiences and knowledge, but we are not gardening experts. Think of it as friendly advice from one garden lover to another. Please remember that all gardening activities should be done with adult supervision and that you're responsible for your own safety and decisions.