Are you ready for Pepper Palooza?

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Each year, University of Georgia Extension joins Georgia Organics as they coordinate a statewide campaign to get kids eating, growing, and learning about a locally grown fruit or vegetable during October Farm to School Month. This year’s campaign will be celebrating Pepper Palooza! 

To participate in Pepper Palooza at your school, home, early care center, or in your community, visit bit.ly/pepperpalooza to register. Participants will receive access to a free electronic toolkit filled with pepper-themed activities, standards-based lesson plans, fact sheets, recipes, school nutrition resources, and more!  

The first 300 people to sign-up will have the option to receive a free packet of pepper seeds, washable pepper tattoos, and a Georgia Planting and Harvest Calendar for school gardens. 

Additionally, we have a new contest to engage school nutrition departments! During the month of October, school districts will have the chance to win a special prize if they include peppers in their menus at least one time per week. The contest is now open at bit.ly/pepperpaloozacafeteriacontest.  

Share your Pepper Palooza pictures and activities on social media with #pepperpalooza. Each week during October, anyone who has used this hashtag will be entered to win a prize and at the end of the month there will be a grand prize winner.  

Questions? Visit the October Farm to School Month FAQ page or email yaza@georgiaorganics.org

The Apple Crunch

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Friday, September 30th, join us in celebrating Georgia's apples!

Fall is often apple picking time in the North Georgia Mountains.  Most of Georgia’s apples are grown in Gilmer and Fannin Counties and the 2020 farm gate value of Georgia’s apple crop was $9,357,650.  The Mountain Research and Education Center in Blairsville grows almost 2,000 apple trees for research, assisting apple growers in Georgia and North Carolina. Most importantly, fresh apples are delicious.

On Friday, September 30th, the Georgia Department of Education School Nutrition Program and the Georgia Department of Agriculture are encouraging Georgians to celebrate apples with the BIG CRUNCH.  To participate, at noon on that date, crunch into a locally grown apple!  This collective crunch encourages healthy eating and supports farm to school initiatives and Georgia farmers.  Post your photos using #GeorgiaGrown.  We will be celebrating in North Georgia’s apple country!

For educators or families, the Georgia Department of Education has put together activities and resources for a true apple celebration.  If you are interested in growing your own apple trees, UGA Extension’s Home Garden Apple publication will be a useful resource.  

UGA’s Community & School Garden Coordinator, Becky Griffin, is ready for the BIG CRUNCH!

Spinach to Win It – 2022 Farm to School Campaign

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The 2022 October is Farm to School Month campaign Spinach to Win it is now live, meaning folks can start signing up to participate! Spinach to Win It is a state-wide celebration to get kids eating, growing, and participating in Spinach-themed activities. University of Georgia Extension is a proud partner of the Farm to School Alliance.

To participate in Spinach to Win it at your school, home, early care center, or in your community, visit bit.ly/spinachtowinit and sign up. Participants will receive free electronic resources to help plan and implement activities.  Resources include standards-based lesson plans, fact sheets, recipes, and more.

The first 300 people to sign-up will have the option to receive a free packet of spinach seeds, washable spinach tattoos, and a Georgia Planting and Harvest Calendar for school gardens.

Share your Spinach to Win it pictures and activities on social media with #spinachtowinit. Each week during October, anyone who uses this hashtag will be entered to win a prize and at the end of the month there will be a grand prize winner.
Questions? Visit https://farmtoschool.georgiaorganics.org/frequently-asked-questions or email kimberlykoogler@georgiaorganics.org. If you have questions about growing spinach in your school garden, contact your local UGA Extension Agent.

School Gardens are Back!

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After years of inattention, school gardens are back in focus. It may be a good time for a garden reboot!

Spend time rethinking your school garden purpose.

Is it solely a horticultural effort or is the garden really tied to the school curriculum?  Ensure that you are getting the most of the garden.  A well thought-out garden plan can be used to teach history, geography, math and English.  Planting a plot of Cherokee Trail of Tears beans can be a segue to history and geography.  Creating a Sarah, Plain and Tall garden is a refreshing way to teach literature.  Use your imagination and creative thinking to make the most out of your garden space.

Strengthen your volunteer core.

The work of the garden cannot be the responsibility of one or two teachers.  The weeding, watering and garden maintenance have to be shared work, hopefully with volunteers.  How do you recruit garden volunteers? Do you have a school garden committee as part of your PTA or PTO?  Can upper level students help?  Plan your garden size based on how much garden maintenance help you have.  A smaller, well maintained garden space is better than a larger unmaintained space.

Make a summer plan.

Summer is coming.  Make sure you have a plan for summer garden care.  Will you plant cover crops or put the garden to bed over the summer months?  Coming back to a garden mess is not an option.  

Have fun!

Most importantly, enjoy the garden.  Enjoy having the students learning outside.  It has been a hard couple of years.  Here are some resources that could be helpful:

Georgia’s 2021 Farm to School Month Planning

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Livin’ La Vida Okra

October is Farm to School Month and schools and early care centers across Georgia will be celebrating all things okra! Livin’ La Vida Okra is a state-wide celebration to get kids eating, growing, and participating in okra-themed activities.

To participate in Livin’ La Vida Okra at your school, home, early care center, or in your community, visit bit.ly/livinlavidaokra and sign up. Participants will receive free electronic resources to help you plan and implement your activities.  Resources include standards-based lesson plans, activities, recipes, videos, school garden planting and harvesting information, and more!

The first 300 people to sign-up will be able to choose whether or not to be mailed a free packet of okra seeds, washable okra tattoos, and a Georgia Planting and Harvest Calendar for school gardens. Share your Livin’ La Vida Okra pictures and activities on social media with #livinlavidaokra. Each week during October, anyone who uses this hashtag will be entered to win a gift card and at the end of the month, there will be a grand prize winner. Questions? Visit https://farmtoschool.georgiaorganics.org/frequently-asked-questions  or email kimberlykoogler@georgiaorganics.org.

UGA Extension has a fantastic publication on growing okra that could be useful for those gardeners new to the crop or for those who want to improve their harvest!

Happy Gardening!

Is the 3rd Annual Great Georgia Pollinator Census on Your Calendar?

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The 3rd Annual Great Georgia Pollinator Census will be Friday, August 20th and Saturday, August 21st, 2021.  This event brings citizens scientists from across Georgia together for insect education and conservation.  Are those dates on your calendar?  Won’t you join us?

Why Count Insects?

Understanding pollinators and other beneficial insects is imperative to Georgia’s ecosystem and our economics.  A 2014 economic impact study by the University of Georgia determined that the annual value of pollination to our state is over $360 million.  Any home gardener who has tried to grow watermelon, squash or cucumbers knows that if there are no pollinators there are no watermelons, squash or cucumbers.

Learning what pollinators need, their habitat, is an important part of this project.  By providing a varied flower garden with nesting materials such as undisturbed ground, spent flower stems and leaf litter not only provides for pollinators but other beneficial insects as well.  These beneficials can help a home garden with some of the pest insect problems.

How Can You Participate?

  • Learn about creating a sustainable pollinator habitat by being a part of your local UGA Extension office programming.
  • Create a small pollinator garden or build the pollinator garden of your dreams (the bees will thank you!).  We have the resources to help.
  • Join our Georgia Pollinator Census Facebook group to share ideas and to learn insect identification.
  • Check the project website, https://GGaPC.org, for information on exactly how to count insects for the Census.
  • Plan to attend one of the events listed on the website to learn even more about pollinators.
  • Count insects on August 2oth and/or 21st.
  • Upload your counts to the website.
  • Know that you have made a real difference in pollinator conservation.

How is the Census Data Used?

The data collected from the Census will be used by researchers to spot pollinator population trends, economic valuations, and correlations between pollinator populations and other factors such as weather. By participating in the Census you are truly contributing to science!

I look forward to seeing YOUR pollinator counts this August,

Becky Griffin

Coordinator of the Great Georgia Pollinator Census

Georgia Ag Awareness Week 2021

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It is almost that time of year!   March 22nd – March 26th is Georgia Ag Awareness Week.  This is the week to celebrate all things Georgia Agriculture.

Happily, Monday of that week is Hands-on Garden Day!  Traditionally, that has meant celebrating our school gardens.  This year is a bit different and the Georgia Department of Agriculture is asking us to celebrating any work in any garden.  So the question is how will you celebrate?

How about spending some time as a family in the garden?  Maybe plan what types of food crops you want to grow this year in your home garden.  It could be a good time to get some cool-season crops in the ground.  Think of what menus you want on the summer dinner table.  Take that cue and plan your plantings.  

Are you challenged with no garden space?  How about a container garden.  There are food crops specially bred for small gardens.  Also, most herbs grow well in pots.

If your local school has a garden, do they need volunteers?  Could you safely arrange to help out in those gardens?  I am sure they could use the help and the labor would be much appreciated. 

Your local UGA Extension office has information on crops grown in your area. Whatever you decide, take some time to appreciate all the wonderful ag products that Georgia offers.  I am dreaming of watermelon, green peppers, tomatoes, sweet corn, blueberries….


 

 

 

 

School Garden During the COVID Crisis

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School Gardening is a challenge during the best of times but during the COVID-19 crisis it can seem almost impossible.  As school gardens become more active there could be questions on how best to manage the garden while keeping safe.  Georgia’s Farm to School Alliance has developed some resources to provide some guidance.  The Farm to School Alliance is made up of partners from the University of Georgia, the Georgia Department of Agriculture, the Georgia Department of Education, the Georgia Department of Public Health and Georgia Organics.

Gardening Covid Guide WEB

Taste Testing Covid Guide WEB

Happy Arbor Day, Georgia!

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ArborDayLogoNationally, Americans recognize Arbor Day in April.  Georgia celebrates Arbor Day on the third Friday of February each year because this is a better time to plant trees.  This year Georgia’s Arbor Day falls on February 19th.  By planting in February,  trees have time for root growth before the heat and drought of our summer months.

Have you considered fruit trees in your community garden?  They add a nice backdrop to your garden, can provide a bit of shade during the very hot summer days, and produce fruit for the gardeners.

Be warned, however, that they can be a lot of work.  There are a few points to think about before you decide if you want to plant fruit trees in your community garden:

1.  You need the right location.  When planning fruit trees for the limited space of a community garden, location is the key.  Fruit trees require at least six hours of sunlight to be healthy and to produce fruit.  Eight to ten hours of sun is optimal.  Also, although the shade a fruit tree provides during  August may be welcome, you do not want to create unwanted shade on vegetable plots.  Dwarf trees may be an answer here.  They are also easier to care for than full sized trees.  Remember what you plant will get bigger and taller!

An apple tree in the Green Meadows Preserve Community Garden.
An apple tree in the Green Meadows Preserve Community Garden.

2. Maintenance.  Realize that fruit trees involve more care than vegetables.  They may need to be properly pruned, thinned and fertilized regularly.  Apples, peaches, and plums will get diseases and insects in Georgia.  Someone will need to volunteer to address this by the use of pesticides, fungicides, and traps.  If your garden does not allow any pesticides, growing traditional fruit trees such as apples, pears, and peaches may not be for you.  Instead, you may want to try other fruit crops such as blueberries and figs.  David Berle and Robert Westerfield’s publication Growing Fruits: Community and School Gardens does a great job of discussing these issues.

3.  You may need more than one.  Many trees need cross-pollination to produce fruit.  You will need at least two different apple trees and depending on the variety you might need two different pear or plum trees.  Most peach trees self-pollinate so one will still produce fruit.

If these points haven’t scared you off, check out these publications:

Home Garden Pears by Gerard Krewer and Paul Bertrand

Home Garden Apples by David Lockwood

Another way to think about trees is their value to pollinators.  There are many “trees for bees” and other pollinators that do well in our Georgia ecosystems.  Did you know that several trees are actually larval host plants for butterflies?  Selecting Trees and Shrubs as Resources for Pollinators is a wonderful resource for Georgia gardeners.

Contact your UGA Extension agent for more information on planting trees.

Happy Arbor Day!

The Great Georgia Pollinator Podcast

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The Great Georgia Pollinator Podcast has launched!   University of Georgia’s Becky Griffin is the host and she designed the podcast to correspond to the Great Georgia Pollinator Census.

If you are interested in pollinating insects, habitat, and research, this is the podcast for you.  It can be found on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Anchor.  Each episode is 20-30 minutes so it is easy to listen to at your office desk, during lunch, or on your commute.

The first episode explores the Connect to Protect pollinator certification program with Lauren Muller.  As with other social media platforms, this podcast will concentrate on pollinator habitat during the first part of the year and transition into more insect topics as we approach warmer weather.  Won’t you join us?

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