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Welcome Back!

School is back in session and the fall planting season is here! Many of you already have garden workdays planned, but if you need help in the garden, let the School Garden Network know and we can work to get your workday additional volunteers or Master Gardener expertise! Or, if you don't have anything scheduled, and would like help getting a start, we are happy to assist with that as well. 

The School Garden Network can also help you find resources, lessons, speakers, and many other kinds of assistance throughout the year. Visit the ACC School Garden Webpage to find out more!.

We are also interested in helping with school pollinator gardens and composting projects and are specifically looking for projects in November. 

Give the School Garden Network a call to be directed to the resources available for your class! Stacy.Smith@athensclarkecounty.com or (706) 613-3501 x309

 

TEACH!

Sign up now to Leaf it to Spinach!

Leaf it to Spinach is a state-wide effort to get kids across Georgia eating, growing, and participating in spinach-infused activities during October Farm to School Month. Georgia Organics has created an electronic toolkit filled with spinach-themed easy activities, standards-based lessons, recipes, planting and harvesting guides, and much more! Find out more here.

Sign up below to receive access to the online toolkit. The first 300 people to sign up will receive a free packet of spinach seeds and our school garden planting and harvesting calendar. 
Don't forget to use #LeafittoSpinach to share all your spinach photos on social media and be entered to win weekly raffle prizes, including a grand prize ticket to the 2017 Georgia Organics Conference.


Sign up with Georgia Organics!

Find more lesson ideas by looking through the grade level sorted lessons from the  UGA School Garden Resources Website!



 
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PLANT!

What to plant this month, Seeds: Arugula, Beans, Beets, Cabbage, Carrots, Collards, Kale and Greens, Lettuce, Spinach, Soybeans, Radishes, Turnips; Starts: Broccoli, Tomatoes, lettuce

August Tasks from the ACC Extension Office   
  • Harvest and use summer crops.
  • Get the beds weeded and ready for fall planting.
  • Apply fertilizer and prepare seed bed so rains will settle the rows and make it easier to get seeds to germinate when they are planted.
  • Use starter solution on transplanted crops.
  • Water the garden as needed to prevent drought stress.
Find more information on garden care on the UGA Extension Publications Page.


 

EAT!

Eating from the garden this month: Apples, Basil, Beans, Blueberries, Cantaloupes, Cucumbers, Eggplant, Figs, Muscadines, Okra, Field Peas, Peppers, Sweet and Irish Potatoes, Summer and Winter Squash, Tomatoes, Watermelon

Got Cucumbers in your garden? Try pickles! This recipe is from the UGA School Garden Resource  page and Captain Planet's Project Learning Garden.


Quick Pickles
Created by Lauren Ladov

Ingredients
4-6 medium cucumbers (or carrots) For the brine: 1 cup vinegar (white, apple, rice, or mixture), 1 cup water, 1/2 tablespoon salt, 1 tablespoon sugar or honey (optional), Pinch each of spices and herbs (dill, dill seed, garlic, peppercorn, celery seed, chili flakes, etc.)

Steps
1. Slice cucumbers into thin rounds and place in jar or bowl 2. Add brine ingredients to saucepan and bring to boil. Stir occasionally to help dissolve salt and sugar. 3. Add brine to cucumbers. Let sit for at least 25 minutes before munching. The longer the cucumbers are in the brine, the stronger the flavors.


Borrow the  Office of Service Learning Cooking Kit  or find a local chef to visit your classroom.

 
EVENTS!

West Broad Farmers Market, Saturdays 10 to 2 and Tuesdays 4 to 7, West Broad Market Garden
Fall Gardening, Master Gardener monthly gardening class. Aug 17, 6 to 7:30 PM Athens-Clarke County Library. Free. Registration required.

Seed Life Skills Book Block Party, August 20, 1 to 3 @ the 5 & 10
Green School Kick Off Event, September 8 4 to 6 PM
Athens-Clarke Agricultural Fair, September 13 to 18
Athens Farmers Market Every Saturday from 8 to Noon at Bishop Park and Weds 4-7 at Creature Comforts
Exploring Edible Education, offered by Georgia Organics. Learn to integrate gardening and cooking activities into the elementary classroom This workshop is geared toward K-5 educators but educator and school nutrition teams are strongly encouraged!
Sept. 13: Macon, Sept. 14: Carrolton, Sept. 15 & 16: Atlanta 

Monthly Farm to School Meet Up, September 27th, 5 to 7 PM at the Hi Lo.
ACC Green School Registration Due, Sept 30
Subscribe to Garden to Desk
Subscribe to the ACORN Green School Program Newsletter
School Garden Network Partners

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