year-round food gardens feed school children

Thanks to season extension techniques -cold frames, raised beds and row covers- our lettuce and spinach were in the ground all winter long! Children planted the seeds inside miniature, greenhouse-like coverings that protected the food plants against the harsh winter. Since November and December the tiny seedlings were ‘frozen in time’ just waiting for the warm spring and rainy weather to bring them to life again. At garden club the school garden was filled with children who delighted in the harvest of fresh greens. As the bell rang to go back to class, children eagerly brought their overflowing boxes of salads into the school lunch room, while stuffing ‘sour leaf’ (garden sorrel) into their pockets for a snack later.