Sunday, March 20, 2016

THE GARDEN AWAKENS! 

The Learning Garden is stirring from its winter slumbers. Over the next several months the garden will change shape, overflow its beds, creep across and down the hill slope to the west of Old Main, take on new technologies, and demonstrate ancient and resilient practices of food production for both perennials and annuals.

PLANT SALE 

APRIL 19-22, 1:30PM-5:30PM

Over 500 4" and 3" pots and 1" plugs, with 15+ kinds of starts!
We've started over 500 plants in starter trays, and have another 500 to go! Plant Sale will begin April 19 and run through Earth Day, the 22nd. Vegetable and Flower Favorites will be available. Sunflower, strawberries, kale, lettuce and leeks are all germinating, and tomato, artichoke, cucumbers, squash and beans are on the way. We also have some sage and mint starts from division.



Donation Request: We currently need 4" pots and trays. Were also keen on perennial starts if you have any to donate.  Please contact DDenniston@stmartin.edu

The better part of this of the Learning Garden is to help us all understand and create sustainable relationships between one another, our environment and our food. Money raised at the plant sale will be used to build out garden facilities, with projects ranging from a pergola and kiwi arbor to cloches, benches and more raised beds, creating a sense of 'Outdoor Classroom' for our verdant, perched terrace.

EVENTS 

Wednesdays, 1:00PM-3:30PM 

Wintered beds are waking up. Drop by and
see the difference just 3 weeks can make!
March 23-
        Companion Planting: A way to increase both production and individual plant vigor. We will discuss Allium, Rosa, and Mint companionship. If you would like to show up as early as 11AM to join our potting party, you'll also get a tutorial on starting tomato, tomatillo, ground cherry, cucumbers, select squash, corn beans, select flowers and more.

March 30-
Sheet or “Lasagna” Mulching: A quick way to develop deep, rich, living garden soil.

April 6-
        Companion Planting #2: Three Sisters Guild: Corn, Squash, Beans. Why these three important continental food sources grow best when their roots and crowns mingle.

April 13- 
We will be prepping for the plant sale this Wednesday. Drop in join us in making the space bright! Clean up, decorations, sign making.


FUTURE WORKSHOPS

Hisa and Ali remove aggressive Ivy and expand cultivation area.
Composting Workshop Series ~
Worm bins, compost tea, and kitchen/pruning piles composting including biology, nutrient ratios, quality of feed product, and technological aspects of composting. See linked articles to learn more about composting http://www.edible-landscape-design.com/how-to-make-compost.html

Build a Seed Storage Locker ~
Recent archaeological digs have discovered squash seed caches over 800 years old- and the seeds are still viable. What conditions do seeds need for dormancy and storage? How long will they 'wait'? What stimulates germination? A good bit of that information can be found here: http://www.plantphysprimer.com/germination/

Introduction to Permaculture: System Theory, Design, and Practice ~ An important aspect of sustainability is systems thinking and design. Gardens are both a source of inspiration and the product of systems thinking via the work of design. Understand how systems thinking can increase product and quality while saving time and work. For an online primer     see: http://www.permaculture.org/resources/gardens/

Thank you, and I look forward to seeing you in the Garden!
~Deston Denniston, MS, CPT





Tuesday, December 1, 2015

Worms!


A few years ago, when we started the Learning Garden at SMU, Dick Langill donated a pile of worms from his home garden, so that we could start our own worm bin. The fat red worms ate a lot of compost, multiplied and eventually needed more space to stretch out.

We now had more than enough to share so that others could start their own worm bins. The great thing about worm bins is that the worms eat up the compost and make rich soil that provides a low cost and a natural way to feed the plants. Worm tea made from worm castings (yup, worm poop) is the best fertilizer there is.
worm bins
Glad to have SMU alum, Sarah Gabel, back to help with the garden!

In the beginning of Fall semester, Sky organized a worm bin building workshop. It takes two plastic tubs and some holes. There are many variations of this design, here is one from Seattle Tilth. We started with our huge pile of red worms that needed to be split up. The worms had to be picked out by hand and added to a fresh pile of newspaper strips and compost.

Hand picking worms out of the rich soil.

Everyone got some worms and bins to take home for their gardens and in Annabel's case, for her dorm room. Since worm bins don't smell, they are a great and easy way to compost indoors.
Pam Holsinger-Fuchs adopts some garden worms for her garden.
Alan Tyler has a pile of worms to take home too.
The best part is that by using a worm bin, you turn your food waste into a reusable resource that goes back into the garden instead of the landfill to produce methane gas. According to the EPA, food waste that goes to the landfill breaks down anaerobically and produces methane, which is 21 times more potent than CO2 as a greenhouse gas. By feeding the worms, you are actually helping reduce greenhouse gas emissions and feeding your garden to grow more food.

OIKOS FYS101 class takes veggies to the Food Bank
Here is what we do with the food we grow. Our First Year Seminar class took this harvest to the Thurston County Food Bank where we learned about how this local non-profit helps eliminate hunger, diverts good food from going to the landfill and provides healthy and dignified food options to people in need.

Wednesday, August 19, 2015

Calling All Gardeners to the SMU Learning Garden!

Have you checked out the Learning Garden on campus lately? Our veggie crops and flowers are growing like crazy in this hot weather. There is a lot of work to do and volunteers are needed to help with harvesting for the local Food Bank, planting crops for fall and-as always-weeding. Garden Manager, Sky Myers is on campus every Friday from 10 am to 2 pm and is seeking volunteers to help out through the remainder of August, September and October. Faculty are encouraged to contact Sky to schedule a time to bring your class to the garden. Special projects and dates can be arranged to suit your needs. Drop ins are always welcomed!


Worm Bin Workshop September 18th
Our Eisenia Fetida (aka Red Wigglers) have been very busy this summer turning vegetable scraps into worm castings. These little critters are totally amazing at transforming organic material into gardener’s gold. These bins are tidy, they do not smell, and are perfect for apartment dwellers or those who don’t need a large, outdoor composting system. Our bin is so full of worms  that we have enough to share! If you are interested in starting a worm bin to compost your kitchen scraps, join Sky September 18th from 12:00 -2:00 pm. Donations will be accepted to cover the cost of materials. RSVP to Sky at lmyers@stmartin.edu by September 4th to participate.

Friday, April 17, 2015

Plant Sale and Summer Class



LERNING GARDEN NEWS

GROW YOUR GARDEN
Annual Plant Sale at Saint Martin's Learning Garden
April 29, 30 & May 1st from 11-2pm in the garden adjacent to the cafeteria patio.

This year, in addition to the usual variety of vegetables, flowers, herbs and berries, we will have an assortment of garden planters made from repurposed materials by student intern Steven Caron.

Throughout the summer quarter the Learning Garden will be offering workshops on how to make some these fun garden projects including:
Vertical Pallet Gardens, Terra cotta Hanging Pot Planters, Repurposed Glass Planters, Beach, Wood Planters, Hanging Gutter Gardens, Garden Totems, Birdhouses, Birdfeeders.

TAKE A SUMMER CLASS (3CR.)! Get outside and learn.
COM395: Ora et Labora: Contemplation and Work in the Garden  (3cr.)
This course has three components: 1. Hands on work in the Learning Garden, planting, tending and harvesting fruits and vegetables for Thurston County Food Bank. 2. Researching local and global issues related to food production and distribution. 3. Creating media stories based on research,m contemplation, and the hands-on experience of working in the soil. Students may take either or both sessions.
Main Summer Session
Fridays, 9am-12:20pm
Instructor: Sky Myers

SERVE
Volunteers needed! Contact Sky Myers (svdervish@gmail.com) if you would like to help with the plant sale, planting or if you have plants to donate!

All sale proceeds go towards the Learning Garden. The vegetables grown in the garden go to the Thurston County Food Bank.

Read more about the garden here http://sustainablesaints.blogspot.com/

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Vertical Pallet Garden

Don't miss this fun workshop on building vertical garden boxes from old pallets on November 14th. Student, Steven Caron and Sky Myers will be leading the workshop, based on Steven’s plans.

Monday, October 20, 2014

Planning new things!

Hello everyone!
Guess what's new, recently? We have new friends coming to help in the garden! Sky is planning new changes for this beautiful and fun garden! Dave brought us new students here to help clear ivy and make a new bed for new plants!
 
Look at these two cool friends, Steve and Patrick!!! They are clearing ivy to make more space for the garden beds. If you are curious about what we are going to do in this place, come and check out our garden every Friday! Or you can keep a close eye on this blog, we will update anything fun here. 

This student is planting future pretty tulips! I know, these tulips look like garlic now. They will be incredibly beautiful soon. Believe me, I planted them in my yard.

 
Aha! Are David and Patrick planning exciting new things for our garden? Do you think it will be about Halloween? Well, I don't know too. But I'm going to ask them this Friday. If you want to know, please join us!

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Recent fun things

Do you know what's cool if you have a garden? Donating food to help others! In the last weeks, our garden donated five bunches of beets and six large cucumbers were donated to the local food bank. In July we also donated  a box of kohlrabi and six heads of broccoli.
 
Before I came here, I never knew that food can be donated too. This is a brilliant idea for both the environment and people. We don't waste food and somebody will enjoy these tasty veggies.

These photos are what beets and broccoli look like. Isn't it amazing to see them in the ground in a natural state rather than in supermarket?
The right one is garlic drying in our shed. They look kinda funny to me, because of their messy leaves and roots. Hahaha! Even I don't know what this garlic will be after drying, but I'm sure they will be better things, eventually. 
Besides veggies, I also have other news to share with you, the following photo is our garden picnic table with new color! Is it romantic to have a picnic on it?  
Have a nice day and come to garden explore more fun! Thank you! 

Monday, August 4, 2014

Harvest Time!

Hello Everyone!
It is been a while since we planted these vegetables and it is time to harvest them! Please take these colorful and delicious veggies home and make a great salad for your healthy dinner! Plenty of fruits and veggies are waiting for you! We have tomatoes, broccoli,  peas, blueberries, radishes and beats! If you have enough patience for several weeks more, carrots will come soon! 




Happy to harvest! Yay!!!


If you come to the garden, you will also find these amazing lilies. This time we have dozens of them and it looks  just like a royal garden now. 
By the way, if you are lucky, you may see moles running in ivies! They are super cute! But I was not as fast as them to take a picture.:(
Anyway, come to the garden and explore unlimited surprises!

Flower Blooming Season


Last Friday,June 20, as usual, Dave, and some students came to help in the garden. I  saw these beautiful Daylilies on that day. Before that, I had only white lilies in my mind and I also considered lilies to represent something pure like the color white. But this amazing orange color as you see in the photo is just right for the passion of summer. All I want on this sunny summer afternoon is to be sitting down in a quiet garden with a cup of tea and to be appreciating these special flowers. They are different from my thoughts before, and they look very pleasant with the sunshine. I was thinking that must be the sun that gave them such great color.

By the way, lilies are not only ones worth noticing! These blueberries are almost ready. See the changing colors from green to purple? It is always amazing to see how plants are growing. They may not change during the five minutes that you  are staring at them,  but check in after a week! You will be surprised  how much they did grow!

And feel free to come! We all will be there every Fridays 2- 4 pm. Actually in this garden, you are welcome anytime to visit!

Enjoy the great summer!


Thursday, June 12, 2014

Summer Garden Projects

Summer is the best time in the garden! Heat and sunshine make everything beautiful. On Friday students from Dave Martin's class joined our new Garden Coordinator, Sky Myers for a work party. Dave led a group of international students in the construction of a new bin for last year's maple leaves that were in one of the raised beds.
First, they took the fence apart and removed the netting. Beneath the surface, the leaves were already beginning to decompose. We worked some of the leaves into other beds and used some as mulch. Leaf mulch helps retain water as well as keeping the weeds down. The new bin was constructed entirely from recycled materials. It will allow us to turn the leaves regularly to expedite the decomposition process.
Meanwhile another group of students worked on clearing out an area where we will later build a trellis. Students also created a new small bed along the fence and planted some sunflower starts and cleared ivy from around the gingko and fig trees. Ivy is terribly invasive and requires continual maintenance to keep it at bay. 

After a break, Sky and a few of the students worked on the drip irrigation system. An afternoon of hard work in the garden left us with smiles on our faces and sense of accomplishment.

Garden Coordinator, Sky Myers is in the garden on Friday afternoons; stop by and say hello or pitch in for an hour. She always has projects going. Next up? Planting the raised bed that formerly held the leaves.
Can you believe these are onion flowers?!
P.S: It's almost time to harvest strawberries! Please come and check how great they are! If you find some red ones, you can taste them! Definitely better than what you buy in supermarket!

Tuesday, June 10, 2014

Garden Map

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B_uT_mseTsddVnRLRlZxcEFuWWM/edit?usp=sharing
Sky made this awesome garden map for watering, so I thought I'd share. In case you want to see what's happening in the garden, here it is. download a PDF here.


Films about food




Here are some titles of films about sustainable food production and things related:


Dirt (2009): Talks about the science of dirt and importance of good dirt as a natural resource.

Growing Cities (2013): SMU library has this. About urban farming in America and implications of food ownership.

2012 Time for Change (2010): An eclectic searching movie that covers many eco-cultural topics, goes to a range of interesting speakers, and leaves one feeling hopeful and capable of creating a flourishing present.

A Community of Gardeners (2012): Focuses on Washington, DC, community gardens as centers of calm and social interactions in inner-city neighborhoods.

Canned Dreams: what people, places, and animals go into a can of ravioli

Food Inc: industrial food industry focused

Food Matters: health focused

Forks over Knives: health focused

Ingredients (2009): Focused on the local food growing movement and sustainable farming. 

The Power of Community: How Cuba Survived Peak Oil: hopeful; culturally and economically focused

The Garden: South Central Los Angeles farmers fight to save their huge community garden in a poor urban area

The Garden at the End of the World: social justice and permaculture efforts in Afghanistan 

Vegucated: New Yorkers go vegan as a challenge



Thursday, May 29, 2014

Sustainability, Place-based Learning, and the Campus Garden



Dr. Tema Milstein (UNM), award-winning journalist and eco-pedagogist, visited as a guest facilitator at an afternoon workshop focusing on using SMU’s garden as a “learning laboratory” for teaching and learning.

Participants included: Olivia Archibald, Heather Grob, David Martin, Teresa Winstead, Kathleen McCain, Julia Chavez, Ernesto Chavez, Mary Jo Hartman and Irina Gendelman

In the tradition of Hands-on Teaching and Place-based Learning and following the concept of Washington Center’s Curriculum for the Bioregion, the workshop focused on the ways that we can prepare undergraduates to live in a world where the complex issues of environmental equality, community health and well-being, environmental justice, and sustainability are paramount.

Faculty and staff discussed the Learning Garden as a laboratory and envisioned a collection of teaching approaches to build sustainability concepts and place-based learning into a wide array of undergraduate courses that can be used to engage students with the issues facing the bioregion.
   

Dr. Milstein’s work, which includes whale and community-based participatory research, focuses on communication as a cultural force in the nexus of humanity and ecology. She is Associate Professor in the Department of Communication & Journalism at the University of New Mexico.  Among her publications, Dr. Milstein’s article “Greening Communication” was published in Greening the Academy: Ecopedagogy Through the Liberal Arts, a 2013 Critics Book Choice Award from the American Educational Studies Association.