Soil Series: Topping off Raised Beds |
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When we talk about adding soil to your school garden beds, it may come as a surprise that the physical work of shoveling and hauling the soil may be the easiest part. The purchase and delivery process may involve numerous people and can take significant time. Every school system has their own process for purchasing supplies and when you add the delivery aspect of bulk soil, where you are generally dealing with different people in a different department, the task becomes more challenging as well as time consuming. Being prepared ahead of time can prevent last minute stress and a smooth purchasing and delivery process. A little homework, outlined here, will have your garden beds looking good and ready to go. |
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When should beds be topped off?
Top-off beds prior to spring and fall planting seasons. There may not be enough time between the harvest of spring crops and planting sweet potato slips to add soil, so it’s important to do a good job of topping-off before planting the spring crop. Plan to order soil in December (yes, December!) to make sure you can have it on-site and in beds for February planting. Some businesses may even offer a winter discount since it may be a slower season for them. For the fall season, ordering in early August should be sufficient for September planting.
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How much soil do I need?
If possible, and grade-level appropriate, include students in this process of calculating the quantity (volume) and perhaps the price (or a price comparison) of the soil needed.
Step 1: Length of bed (ft) x width of bed (ft) x depth of soil needed (ft) = Volume of soil needed (cubic ft)
Hint: You will need to convert depth of soil needed from inches to feet in order to have the correct unit of measure.
Step 2 - Bagged Soil: Volume of soil needed (cubic feet) / 2 cubic feet per bag = number of bags needed
Bagged soil is commonly sold as 2 cubic feet per bag.
Step 2 - Bulk Soil: Cubic feet needed (from Step 1) / 27 cubic feet per cubic yard = number of cubic yards of soil needed
Bulk soil is sold by cubic yards.
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What kind of soil should I get?
Soil mixes vary. A primary consideration to choosing a soil is the quantity you are adding. If the depth of soil you need to add to a bed is 2 inches or less you may consider topping-off with compost. If the depth of soil needed is more than 2 inches, consider adding a soil mix that has an adequate amount of aged compost – 1/3 to ½ by volume.
Ultimately the goal is to have beds ready on time with a good soil mixture that will support a successful growing season. Twice yearly topping-off will limit the need for big loads of soil to be brought in. Many students enjoy the physical process of filling a bed with soil, but remember to also involve them in the mental process of determining how much soil is needed.
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Work Smarter, Not Harder
Do you have garden beds in a courtyard that requires interior access? Adding soil can be a potentially laborious and messy task. A teacher we work with offered up a great solution: ask the custodians to borrow their 55-gallon trash drums on rolling dollies, fill the cans outside and roll them to the courtyard eliminating the risk of hallway spills.
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When I was a child, playing with your food was strictly forbidden. It turns out that playing with your food can actually be good for children. Creating food art is a great way for children (and adults), especially picky eaters, to develop a sense of curiosity and fun about food. They can explore colors and textures without the expectation of having to consume the food. Playing with their food allows them to have control over what they eat, but still have fun and explore foods they may not be ready to try yet. Studies have shown that preschoolers who are allowed to play with their food are more likely to try new things and eat a more varied diet and less likely to develop neophobia (fear of tasting new things).
In case you do want to consume the masterpiece, make sure to wash the produce and wash hands before diving into the creative process.
After doing some research for this article, I decided to host a food art experience with my coworkers. It was a great brain break in the office. Check out our creations, or look for this book to see some professional creations. Art never tasted so good.
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Spring has sprung, and it's the perfect time to take learning outdoors! One way to do this is by incorporating art into your school garden.
Not only does art in the garden provide a creative outlet for students, it also fosters a deeper connection to the natural world. By observing and depicting the plants, animals, and landscapes around them, students develop a greater appreciation for the environment and the role they play in protecting it.
Here are a few ideas for incorporating art into your school garden:
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Nature journaling: Encourage students to keep a nature journal where they can record their observations and sketches of the plants and animals they see in the garden. This is a great way to develop their scientific observation skills as well as their artistic abilities.
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Outdoor sketching: Take your art lessons outside and have students sketch the garden landscape or individual plants. They can use pencils, charcoal, or even watercolors to create their works of art.
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Garden sculpture: Challenge students to create sculptures out of natural materials found in the garden, such as branches, leaves, and stones. This activity promotes creativity, problem-solving, and teamwork.
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Garden photography: Have students use digital cameras or smartphones to capture the beauty of the garden. They can then use these photos to create a digital photo album or even a slideshow to share with the school community.
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Garden mural: Work with your students to create a mural on a garden wall or fence. This collaborative project can be a great way to build community while beautifying the garden.
Incorporating art into the school garden is a great way to engage students in hands-on, creative learning while fostering a deeper appreciation for the natural world. Dig deeper to learn more here.
Check out these examples from some school gardens I have had the opportunity to visit.
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Nutrition from the Garden |
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When I go out to schools, I often ask students, “Why is it important to eat fruits and vegetables?” The typical response I get is “it's good for you,” or “they’re healthy,” but very few students or adults for that matter can tell me anything specific. I decided to ask my coworker, Cheri Granillo to give me some specific nutrition information and health benefits of some common crops grown in the school garden. Cheri manages the PhytoMedicine Extension program at PHHI and is a nurse practitioner. She specifically pointed out several phytonutrients that are found in these plants and their health benefits. The names of the phytonutrient compounds may be unfamiliar now, but as more health benefits are connected to these compounds, expect their names to become a more common part of the health vernacular. |
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Sweet potatoes for eye + skin health
Sweet potatoes contain carotenoids such as lutein, zeaxanthin and beta carotene. Lutein and zeaxanthin are also found in the macula, the area of the retina that gives up sharp eyesight. Age related macular degeneration is the most common cause of blindness in older adults. Eating sweet potatoes can increase the amount of lutein and zeaxanthin in the macula and reduce the risk of developing age-related macular degeneration and even decrease the progression of the disease.
Beta carotene is a precursor to vitamin A so it can prevent vitamin A deficiency. Vitamin A deficiency can lead to blindness, eye infections, skin problems and delayed growth.
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Kohlrabi fights cancer
Kohlrabi is a cruciferous vegetable and is in the same family as broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts and kale. This family of vegetables is a good source of vitamin B6, and potassium. They also are high in sulforaphane which has been shown to protect against cancer. Eating these veggies raw offers the best availability of these phytonutrients. Try eating cubes as a crunchy snack or making matchsticks to incorporate in a slaw.
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Strawberries support heart health
Strawberries are a great source of vitamin C which helps support the immune system. The red color of strawberries comes from the plant chemicals anthocyanins and quercetins which have potent antioxidant properties. These antioxidants help lower the risk of cardiovascular disease and reduce chronic inflammation.
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Here are some tasty recipes to try using these nutritious crops: |
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Find more School Garden Resources on our website: |
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