Fall Harvest

The greenhouse salad harvest has been in full swing for a few weeks now. Students have also been harvesting Butternut squash, potatoes, black beans, and heirloom Doloff pole beans. The root crops remain in the soil, waiting for this year’s Fall Harvest Celebration.

Spring Planting Nears

With a little help from our friends.....thanks to Buzz Ferver

Let the planting begin!

February 8th proved to  be a blustery morning.  Snow blowing, single-digit temps, no noticeable sunlight to speak of…a good day to plant some salad greens!  About 40 biology students planted the first trays of Spring 2011.  Planting will continue through next week.  I’ll try to get some picts up soon.

Fall Harvest Celebration

Students worked hard all fall harvesting the bounty of a fantastic growing season.  On October 28th, we had our 2nd Annual Fall Harvest Celebration.  After sitting down for an “All-Local Feast” featuring the food from our garden, students, teachers and staff attended a variety of workshops related to living locally, and sustainably.

 

Picking heirloom Black Beans.

Showing off the Leeks!

Students participate in the “Cheese Making Workshop” at the 2nd Annual Fall Harvest Celebration.

Learning how to preserve food at the “Canning Workshop”.

Learning from Chef Lyndon Virkler and NECI students at the Fall Harvest Celebration.

 

Heirlooms at MHS

This year, in addition to growing potatoes, onions, garlic, butternut squash, carrots, turnips, leeks, beets, black beans, and celery, we are proud to include a few local heirloom varieties. Vermont Cranberry Pole Beans, Sweetheart Beets, Gulag 95 grex Kale, and Egyptian Walking Onions (originally from Scott Nearing!). Thanks go out to Ann Miller and Leigh Hurley for their generous donations. These heirlooms are being grown as part of the Central Vermont Community Seed Bank. Fifteen other volunteers are growing varieties of local heirloom beans, peas, and lettuce.

Central Vermont Community Seed Bank

Due to the pressures of an industrial agricultural system that focuses on mass production and the increasing reliance on a dwindling number of commercial seed companies, we have lost over 90% of varieties for most crops. This loss of our cultural heritage has put the food security of future generations in jeopardy.

The Community Seed Bank intends to address this crisis by serving as a repository for seeds adapted to our growing conditions. It aims to create a network of farmers and gardeners committed to growing diverse varieties of heirloom plants. This food will be delicious, nutritious, and all ours!

You can be a part of this community movement by locating and donating heirloom seeds (ask your grandparents) or by volunteering to grow selected varieties for seed.

This project is a joint endeavor between the Central Vermont Food Systems Council and Montpelier High School.

For more information, contact: Tom Sabo toms@mpsvt.org

New Irrigation System

Thanks to Dave Carter, and students Sam Kessler, Nate Koenemann, and Phillip Williams, the greenhouse is being fitted with a state of the art sub-irrigation system. Fed with rain gutters and municipal water, the system recycles the runoff, therefore drastically conserving water. The sub-irrigation is a better way to water the plants. It keeps the leaves and surface of the soil dry, cutting down on algae, mold and related insect pests, while delivering water where it is needed….the roots.
Thanks guys!!!!

Dave Carter

Phil and Nate working on the water return system

More photos from the harvest…

Fall Harvest

Onions, cabbage and potatoes so far.
Winter squash and beans coming soon.

Summer’s Here!

The greenhouse takes a rest for the summer while the gardens take over. Environmental Applications students have planted Butternut squash, potatoes, bush beans, and onions. In a few weeks, next year’s students will come in early to plant carrots, turnips and beets for a fall harvest.