MAINE HARVEST
OF THE MONTH:
May is Wild Maine Blueberries &
June is Maine Leafy Greens!
Though schools' doors are closed, school food is very much in operation. Nutrition directors and cafeteria staff are working around the clock to see that children are fed now, and into the summer.
Catch up on all the details and learn how you can prepare your garden to be the source for your "Harvest of the Month" here. Be sure to look for Maine Ag in the Classroom's lesson plans! And please let us know how we can support your school garden's participation in this program!
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MONTHLY GARDENING TIPS:
June Garden Ideas
- Plant tomatoes, eggplant, peppers, Brussel Sprouts (seedlings), beans, carrots, (direct seed) cukes, squash, melons and pumpkins (seedlings or direct seed).
- Plant annual herbs, summer lettuces, mustards and arugula, as well as annual flowers.
- Summer care is crucial so plan well.
- Enlist the help of staff members, students and their families, as well as interested community members.
- Make a summer schedule/monthly calendar with weeks/months needing coverage. Include who’s volunteering, when and phone numbers. Distribute to all involved.
- Ensure careful scheduling in order to maintain social distancing and other CDC guidelines. Hold a virtual training for volunteers. Explain expectations, where keys and tools are, how to access water and how often to water, sanitizing protocols, and other procedures for maintaining safety.
- Provide a map of the gardens and garden journal and post/place in visible location. - Caregivers can write notes about concerns, food harvested, food pantry deliveries, etc.
- Consider donating summer produce to local food pantries or needy school community members.
- Succession planting: do new plantings of salad greens, beans, beets, etc.
- If you have a hoop or green house, solidify what you're planting over summer as well as care--opening and closing it, water plants, check internal temps., etc.
- Summer garden projects: build a compost system, new raised beds, fencing, new shed, grape arbor, etc.
Check out our MONTHLY SCHOOL GARDEN CHECKLIST to learn more about what this month looks like in the garden! For more information, try out these awesome resources: MOFGA's Planting Calendar, Fedco's Veggie Chart, and Johnny's Planting Calculator and Succession Planting Template.ibe to their newsletter.
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Plant Something is a grassroots, nationally established campaign designed to increase the public’s support of local growers, nurseries, garden centers, and landscapers through awareness of the benefits of planting specialty crops for the landscape and garden. Plant Something Maine is a program of The Maine Landscape & Nursery Association (MELNA). If you’d like to learn more, then connect with them on facebook, visit their website, or subscribe to their newsletter.
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