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Planting garlic is a fall tradition for Acequia Madre third and fifth grade students. Their Outdoor Classroom under the direction of local environmental educator, Priscilla Logan, begins in late August with garlic planting and continues until the May harvest of radishes, peas, kale, chard, garlic and lettuce. Depending upon weather and time of year students spend time learning and doing such garden activities as planting, transplanting, weeding, and harvesting. For the past four years the Paloheimo Trust has provided the garden-site, summer garden maintenance, and financial support for the Outdoor Classroom project. Once a month, weather permitting, third and fifth graders walk down Acequia Madre to the Curtin Paloheimo house and enter the "Outdoor Classroom". August is time to ready the beds for garlic planting by adding organic materials to the soil, and weeding out the flourishing bindweed . Logan brings garlic cloves and "rounds" for the September garlic planting. October is time to transplant green and growing kale and chard into the cold frame plus adding worms to the garden. November is for measuring growth and possibly a herb identification or birding walk through the estate. December, January, and February mean regular watering and classroom visits from Bunny Huffman, Paloheimo Trust historian. Huffman relates the history of the property and brings to life the people who have lived there and their work in historic preservation. These informal talks give students a connection with the property and a sense that each and every person can make a difference in preservation. When the Santa Fe spring arrives in March and/or April radish, peas, and lettuce seeds go in the ground. May is harvest time. Acequia Madre students and teachers feast on a final "Garden Lunch", including salad from the fresh greens, cooked greens and garlic bread. Garlic braids are a decorative and kitchen-useful bonus from the May crop. Student Learning Garden skills: how to plant garlic cloves and seeds, how to transplant, how and what to weed, how to prepare and amend soil for planting. Cooperation and Support: Acequia Madre Elementary: Principal Bill Beacham, 3rd and 5th grade teachers Barbara McCarthy and Rachel Montez. |
