Okanis Garden at Prairie Moon Waldorf School

Late Fall, 2009, Sweet Little Garden

2010-04-07T21:18:00.000-07:00

Gillian’s log for week of October 25-31, 2009:

Good evening!

The garden was a great success this year and has been put to bed for the winter. I wanted to let you know the greens are still growing, so please pick them and eat them freely!

I planted rye and red clover for the cover crop, so next spring please plow those into the soils and plant transplants directly into it. The clover will add nitrogen to the soil and the rye, when plowed into the soil, will stop seeds from germinating, so transplants get a jump start on the weeds! I did not, however, plant cover crops in the rows with the greens (spinach, arugula, and kale), so after they're done you're welcome to plant the cover crops, or just let them go until the spring (letting the greens be the cover crops). The onion row also doesn't have a cover crop because it had grown over and couldn’t be weeded; it should be okay to leave for the winter and just till it along with the rest of the rows in the spring.

The garlic has been planted and mulched on the 3rd row from the north. It should be ready around July next year!
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2009 Okanis Garden Planting Plan

Varieties:
50 Basil (Opal and Italian Large Leaf)
Peppers (25 Gourmet Green/Orange; 25 Snapper Green/Red)
Cherry Tomatoes (25 Yellow Mini; 25 Sun Gold)
Onions (Candy Yellow, Mars Red, Superstar White)

Rows, from north to south:

(Russian Mammoth Sunflowers)
- Snap bush beans - Painted Corn/Yard Long Pole Beans/birdhouse gourds
(+other unproductive crops of honey dew melon, eggplant, lemon cucumber)

- Yukon Gold Potatoes (1st crop) - Kale (2nd crop)

- Rose Finn Apple Potatoes (1st crop) - Garlic (2nd crop, planted October, 2009)

[Outdoor classroom space, on sod]

- Summer Savory Herbs - Yard Long Pole Beans - Trellised Japanese Black Trifele Heirloom Tomatoes

- Culinary Sage Herbs - Trellised Yellow Bell Plum Heirloom Tomatoes - Trellised Valencia Heirloom Tomatoes - Trellised Japanese Black Trifele Heirloom Tomatoes (about 100 plants)

- Mexican Tarragon Herbs - Trellised Cherry Tomatoes

- Culinary Sage Herbs - Pickling Cucumbers (1st crop) - Spinach (2nd crop)

[Outdoor classroom space, on sod]

- Arugula (2nd crop) - King Richard Leeks - Onions (3 kinds)

- Kale (2nd crop) - Arugula (2nd crop) - Basil - Sweet Peppers

- Cosmos and Zinnias
(+unproductive Yellow Crookneck Squash)
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A suggested plan for next growing season based on organic crop rotation practices:

Rows starting from the South end (neared the parking lot)-

Tomatoes
Tomatoes
Potatoes
Potatoes
Flowers
Basil/Peppers
Onions/Leeks
Garlic (already planted in 2/3rds)/Beans
Cucumbers/Squash/Beans
Cherry Tomatoes

It was a wonderful couple of months and I hope the garden flourishes next year!
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Late in October, as Gillian and Laurie stood in the shed doorway, watching a light rain begin to fall on the cover crops, Gillian proclaimed, “What a sweet little garden!”

October, 2009, Putting the Garden to Bed

2010-04-07T20:55:00.000-07:00

Prairie Moon parent and sculptor Matt Burke began constructing a bamboo screen for the rain tank system (left). Also, here is a picture showing how the cattle panels (for tomato and squash rows) fit together (right).

The week of October 11-17-, 2009, Gillian drained the rain tanks and removed the tank hoses, pulled dried plants out of the garden, and removed all hoses and t-tape.

Gillian, Rick, and Laurie took down and stored the cattle panels and stakes on Oct. 18. Between October 18 and 24, 2009, Gillian moved all hoses indoors and took inventory of garden supplies.

Grades’ Closet-
1 Warren Hoe
1 Loop Hoe
1 Spring Rake
1 Dandelion Digger
1 4-Tine Fork
1 Garden Cultivator
1 Shovel
3 Trowels
1 Shear
1 Fish Emulsion Sprayer
1 Garden Weeder
1 Level Head Rake
1 Manifold Hose
10 Spigots on Manifold Hose
10 Quick Releases on Manifold Hose
10 Drip Tapes
1 Nozzle Head
1 Rain Gauge Gradesʼ Closet
Saved heirloom tomato seeds (Japanese Black Trifele, Valencia, Yellow Bell Plum) and yard long pole bean seeds
Leftover rye seed for cover crop
Two bushel baskets

Behind Shed-
8 T-Posts (green, shorter length for tying plants with twine)
22 Cow Panels
28 Stakes

Kitchen Pantry-
4 Shop Lights
8 Shop Light Bulbs
1 Scale
1 Scoop

October 4-10, 2009, Gleaners’ Special/Checkers Grocery Store

2010-04-07T18:09:00.000-07:00

Gillian’s weekly log from October 4-10, 2009:

Good morning!

This week marked the last week for the CSA and the first frost!

Wednesday:
harvested the last of the bell peppers
harvested the last of the green tomatoes
harvested the last of the yard long pole beans
harvested cherry tomatoes
harvested leeks

Thursday:
harvested kale, spinach and arugula
harvested sage

In the Okanis CSA bag this week:
“Gleaners' Special”
Mixed Fall Greens (kale, spinach), Arugula, Green Heirloom Tomatoes, Sweet Bell Peppers, Yard Long Pole Beans, Leeks, Onions, Cherry Tomatoes, Heirloom Tomato Seeds, Basil Sage Savory, Flowers, e-recipe (Arugula Pesto With Fried Green Heirloom Tomatoes)

Final sale of the season:
40 lbs of green tomatoes to Checkers grocery store. Thank you, Checkers!

Weather for the week:
high was 72, low 30. Precipitation: 1.32 inches

October, 2009, Fertile Minds from Fertile Soils

2010-04-07T17:47:00.001-07:00

During the Kaw Valley Farm Tour, October 3-4, 2009, visitors learned of the precious soils which inspired the establishment of the Okanis Garden. Capability Class 1 agricultural soils (United States Department of Agriculture - Natural Resources Conservation Service) equal 2.8% of all the soils in Douglas County, Kansas; Capability Class 2 soils equal 8.2%; for a total of 11% of the soils with no or few limitations.

The Prairie Moon school grounds consist of Capability Class 1 soils, specifically Rossville Silt Loam–deep alluvial soils, deposited through both geologic and historic flooding. These soils, with 80”-90” topsoil of silt loam, are supremely suited for sustainable agriculture and the production of fruits and vegetables. As Capability Class 1, the soils have no limitations that restrict growing capabilities. Capability classes 3 through 8 indicate progressively greater limitations and narrower choices for practical use.

“If you eat, soil is your business. Learn what good soil looks, feels, and smells like.” –Michael Ableman

“The Ground We Walk On. It’s one of nature’s most perfect contradictions: a substance that is ubiquitous but unseen; humble but essential; surprisingly strong but profoundly fragile. It nurtures life and death; undergirds cities, forests and oceans; and feeds all terrestrial life on earth. It is a substance few people understand and most take for granted. Yet, it is arguably one of the Earth’s most critical natural resources–and humans, quite literally owe to it their very existence.” –Tamsyn Jones

October 3-4, 2009, Kaw Valley Farm Tour

2010-04-07T17:16:00.000-07:00

During the weekend of October 3 and 4, 2009, the Okanis Garden was one of 19 local farms featured on the Kaw Valley Farm Tour. Farm Tour hosts included the Kansas State Research & Extension, Lawrence Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Community Mercantile, the Community Mercantile Educational Foundation, and Live Well Lawrence. An estimated 250 farm tourists visited the Okanis Garden and a Prairie Moon Waldorf School open house. Visitors were shown the water-conserving drip irrigation system, heavy mulching practices, rain barrel system, soils display, and worm bin. The University of Kansas Center for Sustainability recruited students interested in local foods to help escort garden visitors: Hope and Katy (not pictured), Margaret and Cindy, Zuozhou, Nancy, and Caleb. On evaluation forms, farm tour visitors scored the Okanis Garden an average of 4.7 on a scale of 5, with 4 being “good” and 5 being “excellent.”

The farm tour was reviewed in Farm Talk: Regional Weekly Agricultural Newspaper. In an October 13, 2009, article: “Area agriculture highlighted on Kaw Valley Farm Tour,” Nora Cleland wrote, “One of the most unusual tour stops was at the Prairie Moon Waldorf School Market Garden, north of Lawrence. The 50 pupils in the private school, pre-school through fifth grade, have a large vegetable and flower garden which serves as an outdoor classroom. Volunteers oversee the teaching project which is financed through grants. The children sell the produce and flowers locally to the organic foods market, independent natural foods restaurants and the Farmers’ Market in Lawrence. Irrigation is from rain water collected off the roof of the school.”

October 1, 2009, Elizabeth Schultz Environmental Fund Grant Report

2010-04-07T14:34:00.000-07:00

On October 1, 2009, a final grant report was submitted to the Elizabeth Schultz Environmental Fund (ESEF) at the Douglas County Community Foundation. An ESEF grant, awarded in late 2008, established the Okanis Garden, a collaborative project of partners Prairie Moon Waldorf School and Citizens for Responsible Planning (CRP). The Okanis market garden was developed on the school grounds, rated Capability Class 1 agricultural soils. The garden now serves as an outdoor classroom for a newly developed nature curriculum. The garden succeeded with every proposed goal, including educating about soils and water, selling produce to local grocery stores and restaurants, providing school snacks and lunches, appearing at the Downtown Lawrence Farmers’ Market, and becoming a featured farm on the Kaw Valley Farm Tour. The Okanis Garden is unique in that it combines soil science, the local food movement, and the emphasis on nature in Waldorf education. The grant funded a part-time garden manager position and utilized volunteers from Prairie Moon and CRP. It also provided the funds to purchase garden tools and hardware such as a kitchen scale for weighing produce for sale at market and to Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) customers. Thank you, Beth Schultz!

October 1, 2009, Field Trip To The Merc!

2010-04-07T14:30:00.001-07:00

On October 1, 2009, Chef Sula Teller invited Prairie Moon students for a behind-the-scenes tour of the Community Mercantile Deli, a key Okanis Garden partner. Weekly during 2009, the Merc Deli purchased produce from the Okanis Garden, transforming the vegetables and herbs into delectable deli dishes. During the store visit, one of the students made the final Okanis delivery of the season: four ounces of sage. For the students, Sula used a graphic to show the local food cycle, from garden to customer. As a thank-you for the tour, the students played Sula a song on wooden flutes.

Sept. 28-Oct. 3, 2009, Eventful Week!

2010-04-07T14:29:00.000-07:00

Gillian’s weekly log from Sept. 28.-Oct. 3, 2009:

Good morning everyone! This week was very eventful!

Tuesday:
harvested green tomatoes
harvested cherry tomatoes
harvested bell peppers

Wednesday:
harvested leeks
more gourds
finished mulching the kale
weeded spinach

Thursday: harvested sage for the Merc
field trip to the Merc
harvested yard long beans
harvested mixed greens
harvested basil and sage
picked flowers
prepared for the CSA

Saturday:
Kaw Valley Farm Tour
cleaned garden signs

Sunday:
Kaw Valley Farm Tour
planted garlic!!

This past week’s weather:
High 71, low 36, precipitation: 0.7 in

I'm off to the garden now to strip most the edibles off before the freeze!

In the Okanis CSA bag this week:
Yard Long Pole Beans, green heirloom tomatoes (Japanese Black Trifele, Valencia), Sun Gold Cherry Tomatoes, two bell peppers, mixed greens (spinach, arugula, and kale), three leeks, basil and sage, and e-recipe (Baked Herb Green Tomatoes).

Okanis Garden Sign

2009-09-30T12:05:00.001-07:00

Sprouting Interest

2009-09-28T19:37:00.000-07:00

Lawrence Journal-World Features Reporter Sarah Henning came to the Okanis Garden on September 23 to interview students and gather information for her story, "Sprouting Interest: School's Garden Teaches About Food Economy," published Wednesday, Sept. 30, on p. 1C, http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2009/sep/30/sprouting-interest-schools-garden-teaches-about-fo/ .

First-grader Finn is quoted in the article. When asked about his favorite part of the garden, Finn said, "I like to pick the basil, just because it's yummy."

A Beautiful Week in the Garden

2009-09-27T19:19:00.000-07:00

Gillian’s weekly log:
This was another beautiful week in the garden!

Tuesday, Sept. 22:
Harvested beans with the Sunflower (early childhood) students. Harvested the last of the ripe heirloom tomatoes :( . Harvested Sun Gold cherry tomatoes.

Wednesday, Sept. 23:
Harvested leeks. A reporter from the Lawrence Journal-World interviewed students, faculty, staff, and me about the garden. Harvested spinach with the 1st graders. Started weeding and mulching the kale area.

Thursday, Sept. 24:
Picked flowers and herbs and prepared for the CSA.

This past week's weather:
The high for the week was 86, and the low was 48! (Fall is here!!)
0.1 inch of rain for the week.

We intended for the painted corn to be for this year’s CSA, but the plants did not yield enough for all the customers. We’ll use the colorful ears as decorations and seed-saving; perhaps the students can make jewelry from the seeds.

In the Okanis CSA bag this week: Rose Finn Apple Fingerling Potatoes, Yard Long Pole Beans, red onions, leeks, heirloom tomatoes, spinach, herbs, flowers, e-recipe.

And More Signs

2009-09-27T10:26:00.001-07:00

More Signs

2009-09-27T10:17:00.001-07:00

Signs of the Times

2009-09-27T09:55:00.000-07:00

Prairie Moon students and teachers made wooden garden signs of the various crop varieties.

Kaw Valley Farm Tour, October 3 and 4

2009-09-26T23:13:00.000-07:00

The Okanis Garden at Prairie Moon Waldorf School has been included among 18 area farms and gardens to be featured on the Kaw Valley Farm Tour. Prairie Moon will hold an open house throughout the tour, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, October 3 and 4. Classrooms and school shop will be open. Farm tour visitors will see the rain tank system, recently inhabited worm bin, a soil display, and the 10-row, 50' wide October garden.

Bountiful and Eventful

2009-09-26T22:42:00.000-07:00

At the beginning of the week, Barbara wrote, “I just got back from the garden and, as always, I'm in awe of this little garden and its production!”

Gillian’s weekly log:
This week was bountiful and eventful!

Tuesday, September 15th:
Harvested loads of tomatoes. The Merc Deli bought 20 lbs; Genovese bought the remaining 27 1/4 lbs.

Wednesday, September 16th:
This was a very eventful day. First, it was the first day to use the water tanks! (We have not needed to water since the tanks were finished.) I watered for about 4 hours and noticed about a third of the tank was gone.

Second, staff from television station KTWU, Channel 11 Sunflower Journeys program came out and recorded the students in the garden for an upcoming show about Prairie Moon and the Okanis Garden. Kris's class helped harvest cherry tomatoes, and Bret's class dug the rest of the fingerling potatoes.

The students and I harvested 6 pounds of yard long pole beans, and I sold them to the Merc Deli. I harvested 20 colored sweet bell peppers, about 2.5 lbs of greens (spinach, kale and arugula), and also harvested even more heirloom tomatoes! Wow! Those tomatoes are so productive. The greens are the first of the fall harvest.

Thursday, September 17th:
Picked flowers and herbs.
Thursday evening Genovese presented another tomato festival, which I attended. They used the Velencia heirloom tomatoes from the Okanis Garden in an amazing bison stew!

Saturday, September 19th:
I spent about an hour saving seeds. I have lots but can save many more for the Kaw Valley Farm Tour, coming up Oct. 3 and 4. We should have plenty.

Sunday, September 20th:
Worms!!! (The Prairie Moon worm bin constructed during the 2009 summer session has been awaiting occupents.) My dad came to Lawrence, and we went out and gave the worms a new home. He gave me detailed instructions on how to feed them. They can be overfed very easily, especially when they're trying to get established. I'll see if they're eating this coming Tuesday and go from there. I can write out the instructions on the care this week.

This past week's weather:
No precipitation and the average high was around 80.

In the Okanis CSA bag this week: Sun Gold cherry tomatoes, sweet bell peppers, heirloom tomatoes (Yellow Bell Plum, Japanese Black Trifele, Valencia), mixed fresh greens (spinach, arugula, kale, nasturtium petals), sage and basil, flowers, e-recipe.

Inaugural Year Customers

2009-09-26T21:54:00.000-07:00

So far, the following have become Okanis Garden market customers in this, the garden’s inaugural year:
Community Mercantile Deli; Community Mercantile Produce Department; Genovese, La Parrilla, and Zen Zero; WheatFields Bakery Cafe; Downtown Lawrence Farmers' Market; Okanis Community Supported Agriculture Subscribers. We are grateful for these customers dedicated to supporting the local Kaw Valley food system! Proceeds of Okanis Garden sales benefit Prairie Moon Waldorf School.

Pictured is (1) a sign designating Prairie Moon as the local farm source for one batch of tomatoes for sale on a Community Mercantile Produce Dept. display; (2) the four remaining pints of Okanis Yellow Bell Heirloom tomatoes for sale--many more pints had already been sold! (The "Conventional" sign means that the Okanis Garden is not "certified organic," even though the gardeners follow organic practices. There is a years-long process to become truly "certified organic.")

Mountains of 'Maters

2009-09-26T21:45:00.000-07:00

Gillian’s weekly log:
It was a busy week in the garden filled with tomatoes, still!

September 8th:
high: 75 low: 62 precipitation: 0.20
Weighed out 52 pounds of heirloom tomatoes!
The Merc Deli bought 20 lbs., the Merc Produce Dept. bought 18 lbs., and Wheatfields 10 pounds; the rest will go for the CSA. Harvested fingerling potatoes.

September 9th:
high: 77 low: 66 precipitation: 0.38”
Cleaned fingerling potatoes with the little students. It was so cute and I wish I had my camera! Harvested cherry tomatoes. Harvested and cleaned leeks. Harvested the rest of the onions. Harvested heirloom tomatoes.

September 10th:
high: 82 low: 67 precipitation: 0
Harvested flowers and sage

September 13th:
weather: high: 78 low: 64 precipitation: 0
Seed saving (heirloom tomatoes for next year).

In the Okanis bag this week: Sun Gold cherry tomatoes, Heirloom tomatoes, Rose Finn Apple Fingerling potatoes, mixed onions, sage bundle, flowers, e-recipe.

A Week of Tomatoes

2009-09-26T20:58:00.000-07:00

Gillian’s weekly log:
This week has been a week of lots of tomatoes!

September 1st:
high 74, 0.01 precipitation. Sorted and weighed heirloom tomatoes
Picked cherry tomatoes with the first graders. Lots of fun!
Weighed and sorted out the split cherry tomatoes (13 lb total and 4 lb of splits). Harvested the painted corn. (The corn is beautiful but not enough ears to use for other than decorations and seed-saving.) Delivered to the Merc15 lb of heirloom tomatoes and 9 lb of cherry tomatoes.

September 2nd:
high 72, 0.1 inch precipitation. Harvested Japanese Black Trifele tomatoes. Harvested and cleaned leeks. Harvested Valencia and Yellow Bell tomatoes. Harvested cherry tomatoes. Weeded half the radishes.

September 3rd:
high 77, no precipitation. Sorted and weighed tomatoes. Picked flowers with students. Harvested basil.

About 8 pounds of tomatoes had splits. Also, there were about 3 ounces of basil that was wilted. I gave these to the school for 4th-5th grade students to make marinara sauce.

September 6th:
High 78, no precipitation. Harvested tomatoes! There are so many!

In the Okanis CSA bag this week: Sun Gold cherry tomatoes, assorted heirloom tomatoes, large-leaf Italian basil, Leeks, flower bouqet, e-recipe.

200 Pounds of Produce

2009-09-26T06:06:00.000-07:00

Community Mercantile Market & Deli
901 Iowa Street
Lawrence, KS 66044
785-843-8544

News Release

Contact: Susan Harper, Owner Services Coordinator

For Immediate Release

Local School Garden Supplies Produce to Merc Deli

Lawrence, KS (September 1, 2009) – Squash, heirloom tomatoes, pole beans, leeks, sage, potatoes and more. The young gardeners of the Okanis Garden at Prairie Moon Waldorf School, 1853 E. 1600 Road, grow it all and sell it to the Merc Deli, where it is turned into delectable salads, entrees and side dishes. Chef Sula Teller, food services manager at The Merc, has purchased more than 200 pounds of fresh organically grown produce from the Okanis Garden so far this season. She anticipates purchasing more fresh produce throughout the fall. Prairie Moon School revenues from the sale of the produce will fund the completion of the garden shed designed and under construction by the 3rd grade class, as well as providing start up funds for the 2010 garden.

To celebrate the Eat Local Lawrence Challenge, Chef Sula created salads featuring Okanis produce for the Downtown Lawrence Farmers Market patrons to sample during the August 22 market. Prairie Moon students were delighted to discover their products at the market. Okanis Garden volunteer mentor, Barbara Clark, as well as other Prairie Moon representatives were present to answer questions about the Okanis Garden; among other facts, people learned that Okanis is an early English spelling for Kansas, the ‘people of the south wind’.

The Okanis Garden was established with a grant received from the Elizabeth Schultz Environmental Fund through the Douglas County Community Foundation. The school was also awarded a Kansas Green Schools Water Quality Grant to develop a nature curriculum, to fund instruction at a Water summer camp and to develop a rain barrel system.

Partnering with the Prairie Moon Waldorf School on the garden project are Citizens for Responsible Planning and the Community Mercantile. More assistance, support and advice comes from the Downtown Lawrence Farmers Market, Rolling Prairie Farmers Alliance and the KU Center for Sustainability.

First Week As Garden Manager

2009-09-26T05:43:00.000-07:00

Gillian Luellen began work as Garden Manager on August. 25. Gillian earned a B.A. in environmental science from the University of Kansas in 2005. She lived from 2005-2009 in Japan, where she taught and participated in World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF). With WWOOF, she worked at a sustainable, organic vegetable farm which hosted children at weeklong camps. During the fall of 2009, Gillian is enrolled at Johnson County Junior College to obtain a Sustainable Agriculture Certificate.

Gillian's weekly log:
My first week at Okanis Garden has been wonderful, and I'm still so happy to have this opportunity! It is a beautiful thing you have all worked hard to create.

Tuesday, August 25th:
The weather was sunny with a high of 88 degrees.
I watered the seedlings for about 4 hours in total. Put up a support system made of t-posts for the gourds. The gourds are not taking to it too well; we will need to continue lifting them onto the supports.
Harvested Sun Gold cherry tomatoes as well as some Yellow Bell tomatoes that were in great need of harvesting; delivered over 20 pounds of Sun Gold tomatoes to the Merc.

Wednesday, August 26th
Weather was scattered storms with a high of 81.
Picked all the yard long beans I could find, about 5 pounds total; harvested some more Sun Gold Cherry Tomatoes; harvested Japanese Black Trifle tomatoes until the rain came pouring down. Thunderstorm! Bagged beans.
The thunderstorm quit. Harvested and cleaned leeks, harvested more cherry tomatoes, weeded the seedlings.

Thursday, August 27th
Weather: high 76, low 66
Picked flowers and herbs, made bouquets and got bags ready for the CSA.
The Yellow Bell Tomatoes harvested Tuesday, as well some previously harvested, contained many splits so we decided not to sell them to the Merc. We gave some away to CSA members and for class snacks.

Sunday, August 30th
High: 70
Harvested heirloom tomatoes.

In the Okanis CSA bag this week: Sun Gold cherry tomatoes; yard long pole beans; Rose Finn Apple Fingerling potatoes; onions; leeks, fresh basil, sage, ang borage; flower bouquet, e-recipe.

Tomato Festival

2009-09-26T05:41:00.000-07:00

On August 27, Garden Mentor Barbara Clark and her husband David attended the “Locally Raised Tomato Festival: A Salute to Local Farmers.” Participating Lawrence restaurants Genovese, La Parrilla and Zen Zero purchased Okanis Japanese Black Trifele tomatoes for the celebration. Barbara wrote, “Oh my! What an amazing meal! If I I die tomorrow it will be with a smile on my face. [Restaurant owner] Subarna gave credit to Prairie Moon Waldorf School for their Heirloom Tomatoes. All the chefs came through after the completion of the meal and greeted all the happy, satiated folks. What a joy it was.
Lawrence is so lucky to have local restaurants so committed to local producers."

Prairie Moon Goes to Market

2009-09-24T07:57:00.000-07:00

On August 22, Sula Teller, Community Mercantile Director of Food Services, and Lily Siebert, Community Mercantile Staff member, sample about 750 salad portions made with Prairie Moon Waldorf School Okanis Garden produce to Downtown Lawrence Farmers’ Market customers. Market coordinator Tom Buller organized this special chef’s demonstration, and Prairie Moon teachers, students, and parents were on hand greeting customers and answering questions about the school.

Handfuls of Fingerlings!

2009-09-24T07:51:00.000-07:00

Week of August 16-22, 2009, delivered to the Merc Deli: 17 1/2 lb. cherry tomatoes and 10 oz. sage.

In the Okanis CSA bag this week: Sun Gold cherry tomatoes, sweet bell peppers, Rose Finn Apple Fingerling potatoes, onions, herb bundle, flower bouquet with herb bundle, e-recipe.

Peak of Harvest

2009-09-22T16:20:00.000-07:00

Gardeners’ notes compiled August 15:
The workload doubles. We are not only at the peak of harvest, but we are also cleaning up spent rows and preparing new seedbeds for fall crops: Planted spinach seeds on Aug. 10, radishes and beets on August 11, kohlrabi and arugula on Aug. 15. Twenty-one and one-half lbs. of Sun Gold cherry tomatoes were delivered to the Community Merc Deli on August 10.

This week in the garden, Julie found earth worms 10” long and “as big around as my little finger”!

The heirloom tomatoes coming on are “amazing”--sleepless nights were for naught! “It's a testament to the fertility and good drainage of these Capability Class 1 soils. I would bet Okanis Garden has some of the healthiest, happiest tomatoes in Douglas County,” said Garden Mentor Barbara.

In the Okanis CSA bag this week: Sun Gold cherry tomatoes, Yukon Gold potatoes, Onions (yellow, white, and red), leeks, Italian large leaf basil, cucumbers, flower and herb bouquet, recipe.

Okanis CSA – Very First Customer on Very First Day!

2009-09-09T11:52:00.000-07:00

Gardeners’ notes compiled August 10:

August 4 - Harvested cucumbers and cherry tomatoes.

August 5 -Harvested for CSA: rest of Yukon Gold potato row, leeks, and Sun Gold cherry tomatoes. Delivered to Mercantile: cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, yard long pole beans.

August 7 was the very first pick-up day for the new Okanis Garden Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program, and Garden Manager Julie (center in picture) and Garden Mentor Barbara (right) celebrated with very first customer Anne (on left)!

In the Okanis CSA bag this week: Sun Gold cherry tomatoes, King Richard leeks, Yukon Gold potatoes, assorted fresh herbs, flower bouquet with opal basil, recipe.

It’s Easy Being Green

2009-09-03T22:24:00.000-07:00

On July 31, Waldorf Association of Lawrence Board of Directors President Rick Mitchell represented Prairie Moon Waldorf School at the first-ever Kansas Green Schools Conference, "It's Easy Being Green: Innovation, Inspiration, Implementation." As part of a panel of grantees talking about their Kansas Green Schools projects, Rick described the Okanis Garden Water Quality Grant, made possible by the Kansas Association of Conservation & Environmental Education and Kansas Department of Health & Environment. The 2009 Kansas Green Schools grants were awarded to two Kansas high schools and Prairie Moon Waldorf School. The conference, held at the Sedgwick County Zoo in Wichita, Kansas, was attended by educators and others with schools from throughout the state of Kansas.

Garden Journal July 27, 2009 - July 31, 2009

2009-09-03T21:48:00.000-07:00

Gardeners' notes compiled August 5:

July 27 - With rain predicted for tonight and tomorrow, harvested approximately 4 lbs. of Sun Gold cherry tomatoes. Cherry tomatoes tend to split after a rain. Rain came by late afternoon. Nine grades campers harvested in the garden: yellow crookneck squash, cucumbers, and the first yard long pole beans. Students found a tree frog in the pole beans!

Tied up tomatoes. Tried bamboo supports and twined the corn. Weeded and mulched corn/gourd row; lemon cucumber and two kinds of beans doing well in same row. Stink bugs--adult vine borer?-- abundant in the row, brown jewel-like eggs on underside of leaves. Yellow and black (both striped and spotted) cucumber beetles also present in that row but not causing damage. Plants seem more susceptible to them when they’re young. (The Japanese delegation visiting on Jun. 29 recommended using a reflective material to deter them next season.)

July 29 - Merc delivery: cucumber, cherry tomatoes, pole beans, squash.

July 31 - Foliar-fed everything except the cherry tomatoes. The corn row needs t-post reinforcement; the bamboo isn’t strong enough. The birdhouse gourds are growing rapidly, some already 4” long. This is a very productive plant.
The squash row is covered in borers in all stages/generations. The transplanted squash seem more susceptible than direct-seeded squash.
Harvested the last few (small) yellow crookneck squash.
Harvested yellow onions. Tops were dead, but all were fine, good sized.
The heirloom tomatoes have a lot of fruit! They have come a long way since our wacky late spring.
The peppers are setting small fruit and more blossoms; relative low amount so far, about four per plan.
The zinnias and cosmos are looking good.
Pulled out all the squash.

Garden Journal July 20 , 2009 - July 24, 2009

2009-09-03T21:12:00.000-07:00

Gardeners' notes compiled July 27:

July 20 - Harvested 30 lbs. of cucumbers. Harvested more squash.
July 22 - Harvested Yukon Gold potatoes with campers Lauren, Enni, Julia, and Stara.
Harvested and made Merc delivery: Yukon potatoes, squash, cucumbers, basil, tarragon, sage, cherry tomatoes.
July 23 - Pulled dead squash plants from row, freeing 1/3 of the row.
Staked and twined corn and gourds (removed one that looked like it was covered in a grey ash; Barbara thinks they were eggs).
Leaving flowers on opal basil; they are for flower arrangements, although edible, too.
July 24 - Harvested herbs with grades campers. Quinn and Max helped harvest squash, cucumbers, and Sun Gold cherry tomatoes.

Garden Journal July 13, 2009-July 19, 2009

2009-09-03T20:51:00.000-07:00

Gardeners' notes compiled July 19:

July 13 - Tied up tomatoes; harvested squash with two campers Lauren and Bella.
July 14 - Cut back basil.
July 15 - Harvested carrots (woody/starchy) with grades campers. Delivered squash order to The Merc.
July 19 - What amazing weather! Enjoying the temperatures, although they do make one a little unsettled...low 50's in July in Kansas...what's next?!

First Kansas Green School in Douglas County

2009-09-01T22:37:00.000-07:00

On July 15, a final report was submitted for the Kansas Green Schools Water Quality Grant awarded earlier by Kansas Association of Conservation and Environmental Education (KACEE) and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. This grant advanced Prairie Moon Waldorf School, the first Kansas Green School in Douglas County, as a leading environmental school in northeast Kansas. Three major goals were fulfilled through the grant: (1) to develop a Prairie Moon Nature Curriculum, including a garden curriculum, which will teach about non-point source pollution; (2) to offer a 2009 Prairie Moon Water summer session, including instruction about water quality and water conservation; and (3) to constuct a rain barrel system for watering the Okanis Garden and other beds and plants on the school grounds.

For (3) above, it was determined to construct a rain tank system, consisting of two 425-gallon farm tanks, elevated on cinder blocks.

Garden Journal June 3, 2009-July 7, 2009

2009-09-01T22:07:00.000-07:00

Gardeners' notes compiled July 10:

June 3 - Mulched basil and peppers. Watered seeds.
June 5 - Foliar-fed entire garden with fish emulsion.
June 6 - Cucumbers up, pole beans have grown considerably.
June 8 - Carrots in tomato rows germinated. More corn and gourds in north row up. Fed Barbara’s compost to tomatoes. Planted EZ Pick snap beans near corn.
Planted borage seeds in gourd/bean row.
Flushed irrigation lines to remove calcium and mineral deposits.
June 14 - Squash blossoms! Several on many plants. Potatoes with lots of blossoms. More rain and thunderstorms in the schedule...as well as above and below average temps. How's that for Kansas weather? Let's just keep our fingers crossed we don't get hail!
June 15 - Yellow crookneck squash developing.
Foliar-fed.
Took soil sample from tomato row. Delivered sample to Douglas County Extension Agent Jennifer Smith: There are four forms of nitrogen in the soil. Extension office tests for two; they make recommendations for fertilizing and provide no N numbers. Jennifer said that next year, add compost before planting. Potassium is only an issue at 800-900. Tomatoes likely were struggling with the weather.
June 17- Weeded and mulched one tomato row.
(One day this week, early childhood class toured garden and planted radishes in cucumber row.)
June 22 - Weeded cucumber bed, top-dressed with compost.
Squash ready!
Watered overnight.
June 24 - Harvested squash, delivered to Sula at the Merc.
First cosmo blooms! Some zinnias budding.
First row of tomatoes have blossoms.
Aphids on one squash blossom. One limb of a squash plant was dead, found a break, suspect vine borer.
Cucumber being eaten by cucumber beetle (yellow and black stripes found on many plants).
Heavy weeding and mulching.
Tied horizontal twine for pole beans.
Soil very wet under mulch over potato plants.
June 27 - Weeded, mulched.
June 29 - Posted wooded garden signs made by students.
July 1 - Teachers and summer students harvested squash.
July 3 - Harvested more squash, added to July 1 harvest. Heavily harvested basil.
Several squash are diseased. Plants have yellowing leaves and rotting fruit. Yellow crookneck are developing a black and fuzzy mold. Green striped squash is turning yellow.
July 5 - Just got back from the garden and it is looking pretty green and growing there. Saw one Louisville Slugger (zucchini)...they just jump to that size when you turn your back.
July 6 - Led cucumbers up trellis. Added vertical twine for yard long pole beans.
Wrapped plants around corn; some gourd plants are too heavy.
Some carrots in leek/oinion row are mature enough to harvest.
Cultivated and mulched pole beans.
Mulched zinnias.
July 7- Early childhood class harvested squash. Another squash plant is dead--the one closest to the one earlier removed due to signs of borer.
Foliar-fed everything except squash and the herbs soon to be harvested.
Harvested cullinary sage and Mexican tarrigon.
Made second delivery to The Merc–squash, tarragon, sage.

Precious Soils and Water

2009-09-01T21:18:00.000-07:00

For the Japanese guests who visited Prairie Moon on June 29, Douglas County Extension Agent Jennifer Smith gave a great presentation on soils and water.

Using an apple as an analogy for the earth, Jennifer addressed how little soil there is on the planet that is suitable for growing food. She cut up an apple, representing different parts of the earth. One thin apple sliver represents the soils where food can be produced. Capability Class #1 soils equal 2.8% of all the soils in Douglas County; Capability Class #2 soils equal 8.2%, for a total of 11%, which can be grown on, with no limitation. Capability Class #3 through #8 represent increasingly limited capabilities.

The soils of the grounds of the Prairie Moon Waldorf School are Capability Class #1–among the most precious 3%. The top soil of the Class #1 soils around Prairie Moon is said to measure up to 90”. Jennifer Smith easily pushed a coring tool into the ground, drawing up a plug of top soil which far exceeded the measurement of the tool.

One gallon of water represents all the water on earth. One-half to one cup of water out of the gallon represents all the fresh water on earth. The rest of the water is salt water. Only one drop of that cup is available for use; the rest of the cup is deep groundwater or in the soil and air. With only the one drop, there is an urgent need to protect it and keep it pure. No new water is being formed or made–it cycles over and over.

Global Partners to PMWS

2009-09-01T21:05:00.000-07:00

On June 29, the Okanis Garden was honored to welcome a delegation of Japanese organic farmers from Global Partners for Local Organic Foods (see previous blog post). Also visiting the garden that day were: (Bottom Picture) Downtown Lawrence Farmers’ Market Coordinator Tom Buller, third from left, and Elizabeth Schultz, far right; and (Top Picture) Douglas County Community Foundation (DCCF) Executive Director Chip Blaser, standing. Elizabeth Schultz established the Elizabeth Schultz Environmental Fund (ESEF) through the DCCF; an ESEF grant was gratefully received by Prairie Moon Waldorf School to develop the Okanis Garden, first plowed in March, 2009.

Prairie Moon summer camp instructor Ms. Lana and her students serenaded the Japanese visitors with the garden song, “Inch by Inch."

Japanese-Kansas Exchange

2009-09-01T20:38:00.000-07:00

Jeffrey R. Severin, Director of the KU Center for Sustainability wrote the following article for The Oread, the faculty/staff newspaper of the University of Kansas. The article mentions the June 29, 2009, visit by Japanese organic farmers to the Okanis Garden at Prairie Moon Waldorf School.

July 13, 2009
Sustainability spotlight
US-Japanese exchange focuses on organic agriculture

Local and organic food systems were in the spotlight last month as a 10-member Japanese delegation of organic farmers and sustainability activists visited the Lawrence area. The delegation was here as part of Global Partners for Local Organic Foods, an exchange project with a mission to address the decline of rural communities and local food production and establish closer personal relationships between food producers and consumers. The project brings together the Japanese delegation with a similar team from Lawrence.

Patricia Graham, Research Associate with the Center for East Asian Studies, conceived the project and co-directs the program with Kansas Rural Center Director Dan Nagengast.

“The goal is to get more people interested in locally produced organic food,” she said, “and to realize that the local organic food industry is a viable professional career path. We want more organic growers, we want more restaurants to use local organic food, and we want more grocery stores to carry local organic products.”

As part of that effort, the Japanese delegation visited organic farms in Lawrence and gardens at the Prairie Moon Waldorf School; toured Central Soyfoods, a local organic tofu producer, and the Bowersock hydro-power plant; and put on a cooking demonstration at the Lawrence Farmer’s Market. At a stop at Johnson County Community College, they learned about that college's sustainable agriculture program, campus-wide sustainability initiative, and the JCCC food service program that uses vegetables grown by students at the Kansas State University's Horticulture Center. On a trip to the Flint Hills they saw a rain water collection system, a passive solar installation, and wind turbines. The group also dined at organic restaurants in Lawrence and Kansas City and presented information at a public forum at the Lawrence Union Pacific Depot.

The tour was the second half of an exchange with team members in Lawrence. The Kansas delegation traveled to Japan in May where they learned about traditional farmhouse preservation, toured organic farms, and spent time in a community that has a strong focus on organic farming. The group saw many examples of sustainability in the food system including farmer training programs, a school lunch program that uses locally grown organic food, businesses that partner with farms to incorporate organic produce, and the conversion of food waste into biogas and liquid fertilizers.

The Kansas delegation also visited urban farms in Tokyo, which tied into the research interests of Lawrence team member and Eric Rath, associate professor of history. Rath is currently completing two books about Japanese food.

“The strength of this project was regular folk beyond just academics. The project included farmers, people involved in organic agriculture and urban farming at various levels, agricultural extension agents, restauranteurs, the Kansas Rural Center and others. These people have the potential to make real changes beyond just sharing ideas, and it was exciting to work with them,” Rath said.

The idea for the project grew out of a program Graham was involved with at KU from 2002-2006. Through the Kansas Asia Scholars Japan Program, Graham took students from KU to study sustainability in Japan. The program highlighted cultural and natural resources of Japan and included meetings with the nonprofit organization Japan For Sustainability. KU students presented information on aspects of sustainability at KU, in Lawrence, and across the United States and learned about sustainability from their Japanese counterparts.

Global Partners for Local Organic Foods is funded through a grant from the Japan Foundation Center for Global Partnership. Supplemental funding for Kansas projects and the group's Web site came from the Elizabeth Schultz Environmental Fund of the Douglas County Community Foundation, established by KU emeritus professor Elizabeth Schultz. For more information about Global Partners for Local Organic Foods, visit www.gplof.org.

Celebrating

2009-07-07T09:35:00.000-07:00

On June 24, Sula Teller, left, director of food services at the Community Mercantile in Lawrence, and Julie Ferreira, Okanis Garden manager, celebrate the first sale of Okanis produce–summer squash–to the Merc. Sula’s gift of a generous endorsement of the Okanis Garden, almost a year ago, was instrumental in transforming dream into reality.

Young Kansas Farmers

2009-06-26T12:53:00.000-07:00

Prairie Moon early childhood, summer session students helped picked squash on June 25. These youngsters proved to be true, tough Kansas farmers: In spite of sometimes falling over from tugging on the squashes, getting scratched by prickly zucchini stems, and 100º temperature, job satisfaction was running high, described as "Fun!"

We're in business!

2009-06-25T12:25:00.000-07:00

We have earned our first dollar (and more)! On June 24, Julie took seven pounds of Okanis Garden summer squash (the yellow ones in the picture) and sold it to the Community Mercantile Deli to be made into delectable deli dishes. We are reminded with gratitude of the faith and encouragement that Sula Teller, director of food services at the Merc, has shown for our garden-- Prairie Moon's entry into the local food system of the Lawrence area.
The other squashes we will cook into some treats for visitors we expect to the garden next week.

Regarding Earth

2009-06-25T12:24:00.000-07:00

During the Prairie Moon grades Summer Session I, “Earth,” June 8 - 19, the students interacted with the garden in the following ways:

- They began drawing maps of their own grades garden, measuring it, and then drawing it to scale on poster board. They determined what symbol should represent certain kinds of plants.

- They observed, collected, and drew detailed sketches of many different kinds of insects found in the Okanis Garden. Two insects that were most enthralling were the wheel-bug nymph (assassin bug) and many different types of lady bugs. The drawings were kept in handmade nature journals.

- Teacher Ms. Dana and the students set up a worm-compost bin, and discussed the importance of worms to the soil. As of the end of the session, the students had not yet procured worms for the bin.

- The children helped Miss Julie fertilize the plants in the garden with the fish emulsion solution. She explained how the fertilizer is made and how it benefits the plants.

- The children helped to weed and mulch the garden on a daily basis. They paid special attention to keeping the straw mulch pulled up high around the potato plants. They also watered the newly planted native peach tree on a regular basis.

- They identified the trees around the schoolyard and made a special effort to identify the many instances of poison ivy that abound around the school.

On June 17, the early childhood Summer Session, “Rainbow Camp,” planted radish seeds and harvested radishes planted earlier.

Straw Mulch

2009-06-10T20:03:00.001-07:00

June 10, 2009: Already an entire large, round straw bale has been forked out on the garden. We are grateful for Prairie Moon parent Lesley Rigney's donation of a second large bale in addition to the first one. Heavy mulching is key to our organic garden's flourishing.
June 7, 2009, from Barbara: Looks like another week of dodging thunderstorms perhaps.

Up, up, and up!

2009-06-09T05:46:00.000-07:00

On June 7, 2009, Julie reported,"All of our cucumbers and pole beans are up! The pole beans are all over two-and-a-half inches tall! They shot up from Thursday to Saturday. Some corn is up already too!"

Infrastructure

2009-06-07T21:50:00.000-07:00

Here are some images from Rick, showing the irrigation system, the trellises, and the garden shed while it was under construction by Mr. Schacht's third-grade class.

Plant, Weed, Mulch, Water

2009-06-07T21:41:00.000-07:00

Reported by Julie on June 1, 2009:
Sunday I planted the pickling cucumber and the yard long pole beans.

Last week I planted more zinnias, carrots, and transplanted basil and kale from another farm.

I weeded and mulched the leeks and onions.

I planted corn, birdhouse gourds, and when the latter seeds ran out, I planted the remaining pole beans and some lemon cucumber seeds to finish out the row supported by corn.

I mulched the two potato rows hardcore - over 1.5ft of straw to get good and high on the plant.

I'm watering overnight - it was a hot and windy day and there are a lot of seeds in the ground that need the moisture.

I also got chalkboard paint from Bret to establish a communication board on the new garden shed built by the third-graders.

Reported by Barbara on May 30, 2009:
David and I turned on the drip irrigation. Rows were extremely dry, and plants looked stressed from the extreme heat today coupled with dry ground. Seedlings will go down quickly if not kept moist. All rows are being watered, even the rows not planted yet. I'll go back early tomorrow morning and turn the water off.

I also delivered the shredded mulch bags and fish emulsion/algamin mix with a paint filter and the seeds: Yard Long pole beans and Painted Mountain Corn. I set everything inside the new shed. Also attached a note on the box about how to mix emulsion in 2 gallon spray tank.

There's the possibility of some severe storms the first of this coming week.

Let the Growing Begin!

2009-06-07T21:34:00.000-07:00

Barbara delivered the following report on May 20, 2009:

The weather finally has given us a week's worth of sun to get some sustained work completed at the Okanis Market Garden.

With the help of many hands the "infrastructure" of the garden is in place.

Rick's pick-up truck has become the vehicle of choice to transport trellises, rototiller, and all things in need of being brought to the garden. All of the trellis system had been prepared and was moved to the garden the prior evening. Julie had done a preliminary tilling earlier that day and then Barbara completed a final tilling later on Tuesday evening. The soil was in perfect planting condition for Wednesday.

On Wednesday morning David Clark, Marissa Massoni, Julie Ferreira, and I began installing the trellis system. David was our mechanical mentor for both the construction of the trellis system and the t-tape drip irrigation system. Marissa has been working with me this season at Maggie's Farm. We connected through Growing Growers and her energy and interest in sustainable agriculture has been a great asset to me. On Wednesday morning Marissa helped with weeding and planting out tomato starts. Julie worked with David so she could learn about the installation and eventual take-down of the trellis system and also the mechanics of the t-tape irrigation system. I think we worked as an efficient team and got our intended work completed. The t-tape system was tested before we left that afternoon and was watering newly planted little seedlings. On/off valves will be attached, so that each row can be turned on independently.

What got planted:
Cherry Tomatoes - SunGold and Yellow Mini
Heirloom Tomatoes - Yellow Bell, Valencia, Japanese Black Trifele
Sweet Bell Peppers - Snapper (Green-Red) and Sunray (Green-Yellow)
Summer Squash - Yellow Crookneck, Sunray, and Baby Bush
Culinary Sage
Mexican Tarragon
Summer Savory

Weeded:
Leeks - King Richard
Onions - Candy, Mars, and Superstar

Hilled and Mulched:
Potatoes - Fingerling Variety - Ross Finn Apple
Yukon Gold

Yet to be direct seeded:
Cucumbers
Beans
Bird House Gourds
Radishes

Let the growing begin!

Rain Barrel Workshop

2009-06-07T21:20:00.000-07:00

On May 12, several Prairie Moon community members attended a rain barrel workshop in DeSoto, Kansas, taught by the Hillsdale Water Quality Project. A rain barrel system provided through a Kansas Green Schools Water Quality Grant will connect to the Okanis Garden drip irrigation system to water plants and conserve water.

April Showers

2009-06-07T20:35:00.000-07:00

April showers galore! Julie reports that the rain has definitely been making it difficult to find days with soil dry enough to work in, but she and some of Bret's 3rd grade class made an attempt on the morning of April 29 to put leeks in the ground. They also seeded some lettuce starts that will be in Bret's classroom under the grow lights.

The tomatoes, peppers, and herbs that the third grade had tended in the classroom were moved to Barbara's farm on Monday where they are hardening off outside under a hoop house. Julie hopes to be transplanting those soon.

On May 4, Barbara and Julie got the last of the leeks and onions planted. Julie planted some flowers, too.

Wishes for next year--(1) a hoop house, so plants don't have to leave site to harden off, and (2) a bigger grow light area, where starts can be transplanted into larger containers and kept under grow lights longer.

Potatoes and Onions and Leeks, Oh My!

2009-06-07T20:33:00.000-07:00

On April 23, 2009, Barbara and Rick tilled the garden rows again. This was the second tilling, using a large tiller; the very first tilling was with a small tiller. Momentuously, potatoes and onions and leeks went into the ground that day.

Earth Day

2009-06-07T19:58:00.000-07:00

On April 18, 2009, garden mentor Barbara Clark represented the Okanis Garden and her own Maggie’s Farm at an information table during an Earth Day celebration at the Community Mercantile natural food grocery in Lawrence, Kansas. The Merc will be featuring Okanis Garden produce in the Deli during 2009.

Kansas Green Schools Water Quality Grant

2009-06-07T19:34:00.000-07:00

On April 6, 2009, Prairie Moon Waldorf School learned that it had been awarded a Kansas Green Schools Water Quality Grant for the Okanis Garden. This grant is administered through Kansas Association of Conservation & Environmental Education (KACEE) and funded through the Kansas Dept. of Health & Environment.

The grant will assist Prairie Moon with curriculum-development in non-point source pollution reduction and prevention and water conservation, as they relate to the Okanis Garden. The curricula will begin to be taught during the 2009 Prairie Moon Summer Camp.

The grant also provides monies to build a rain barrel system for the garden, which will be constructed during summer, 2009.

As matches to the grant, Prairie Moon has already received donations of two large, round, bales of straw for heavy mulching in the garden, and native plants for xeriscaping on the school grounds.

Prairie Moon Waldorf School can officially proclaim itself to be a "Kansas Green School"!

Beginning

2009-03-28T12:19:00.000-07:00

Barbara and Julie seeded sweet peppers, heirloom tomatoes, and some herbs for the garden Wednesday, March 25. “Things are beginning,” said Barbara.

Black Powder

2009-03-16T09:32:00.000-07:00

Saturday morning, March 14, Barbara Clark, Rick Mitchell, and Melissa Watson tilled the Okanis Garden again, using a larger tiller to trace over, deepen, and break up the rows which were turned the previous Saturday. The soil tumbling from the tiller tines looked rich and fine, like black powder.

Okanis Garden Diagram

2009-03-10T17:49:00.000-07:00

Earth Turned

2009-03-10T17:38:00.000-07:00

On Saturday morning, March 7, 2009, with heavy rains predicted, the earth was turned for the Okanis Garden at Prairie Moon Waldorf School!

Garden manager Julie Fernandes-Ferreira, garden mentor Barbara Clark, parent Melissa Watson, early childhood teacher David Werdin-Kennicott, Waldorf Association of Lawrence Board President Rick Mitchell, and volunteer Laurie Ward measured, staked, and finally tilled the garden into the following shape:

( ( ( | | | | ) ) )

There is 10’ of space between most rows, except for 18’ between the inside arced rows and the first straight rows at either end--to allow for entire Prairie Moon classes to help in the garden. The overall dimensions of the garden are 106’ x 50’.

If you use imagination and extend the arced rows all the way, you can visualize an “O” around the garden. In one of several instances of serendipity concerning this garden, I realized that the “O” could stand for Okanis!

The weather cooperated perfectly, and by noon we easily met our goal of finishing the tilling. Barbara commented the next day, “How nice it was to listen to the rain last night, knowing what wonderful work was accomplished in the morning.”

And Dave added, “The weather was nice for tilling, and I also thought how good your timing was, when we had the thunderstorms later that night. All in all I think it is a good start to great things this year.”

The soils surrounding the Prairie Moon Waldorf School are “black gold”--topsoil up to 90” deep. Several on the garden crew remarked that pushing the stakes into the ground was like hot knives cutting into butter. We have hopes for high productivity for the Okanis Garden at Prairie Moon Waldorf School!

A Field-to-Fork Experience:The Okanis Garden at Prairie Moon Waldorf School

2009-03-09T15:51:00.000-07:00

The Prairie Moon Waldorf School in Lawrence, Kansas recently received a grant to establish a market garden on the school grounds. The garden will provide a vital focus for the school’s Waldorf curriculum, encouraging appreciation and connection to the natural world through active participation in planting, growing, and harvesting. Students will learn about plant biology,
soil science, hydrology, gardening, mathematics, geology, geography, and business.

According to Kathy Farwell, the school’s 1st/2nd grade teacher, “The children will create a relationship with the fertile earth that surrounds their school, and the harvest will provide nourishment for their community.”

For the garden project, Prairie Moon partnered with Citizens for Responsible Planning (CRP), a group whose mission is to educate about the value of prime farmland in Douglas County and to promote the wisdom of creating local food systems in the Kansas River Valley. Situated in the Kansas River watershed on grounds rated Class 1 agricultural soils by to the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the school is in an ideal area for growing.

Sula Teller, food service manager of the natural food grocery Community Mercantile, has endorsed the Okanis Garden project and is committed to purchasing produce to be sold in the store’s deli. Prairie Moon students will be offered a Merc kitchen tour, affording them a chance to see the direct connection of their food production, preparation, and consumer use. Certified master gardener and master composter Julie Fernandes-Ferreira has been hired as the garden manager. Barbara Clark, a local grower from CRP and rural neighbor of Prairie Moon, will act as volunteer garden mentor. Declares Ms. Clark: “This will be a true field-to-fork experience for the children.”

Another supporter, the coordinator of the Downtown Lawrence Farmers’ Market, Mercedes Taylor-Puckett, has asked to purchase Okanis Garden produce for the Market. The vegetables will be featured in a chef demonstration during one of the Saturday markets during the year. This opportunity will directly educate Prairie Moon students in the farm-to-market process. “It is the future generation of farmers and food consumers and our very best soils that will benefit from all the garden activity,” says Ms. Clark.

Several events already have been scheduled around the endeavor: A community harvest dinner will feature produce from the garden. The Douglas County extension agent Jennifer Smith will give a soils presentation to the Prairie Moon students, faculty, and parents. Also, the Okanis Garden at Prairie Moon Waldorf School has been selected to be on the October 3 and 4, 2009, Kaw Valley Farm Tour, an increasingly popular event that draws city-dwellers and gourmands from all backgrounds.

Growers in the Rolling Prairie Farmers Alliance, the oldest Midwest vegetable cooperative, have offered to assist the students and teachers with the garden and to advise with a Community Supported Agriculture subscription service.

The teachers will make use of the garden by integrating academic, artistic, and practical work, recognizing nature’s laws, seasons, and cycles. The hope is that the garden, with its scientific, cultural, educational, aesthetic, and economic components, will become an expanded classroom for all classes in the school. Everyone associated with the school – students, faculty, staff, parents, and other volunteers – will be involved in some way: planting, maintaining, and harvesting; helping with lessons; fashioning artistic enhancements and garden infrastructure; and overseeing managerial aspects of the Okanis Garden. The name Okanis is a version of the English spelling of Kansas – the early “people of the south wind,” who inhabited the Kansas River Valley.

“The addition of the garden will bring life to our school grounds,” according to early childhood teacher Bekah Zachritz. “And it will bring to even the smallest of children a sense of wonder and an opportunity to explore.”

The Waldorf Association of Lawrence was incorporated in 1996; Prairie Moon Waldorf School opened in fall 2005. “We look forward to having our students learn about growing their own food and also engaging in Lawrence’s effort to conserve prime soils and develop local food production,” states Board President Rick Mitchell.

The grant was received from the Elizabeth Schultz Environmental Fund through the Douglas County Community Foundation. Additional donations were also received and further funding is being developed to support this new, organic market garden for the Lawrence-area community.