Urban Garden- Where Minds Grow Faster Than the Weeds.

Funded Oct 23, 2009

Thank you for choosing our project for your donation. The Urban Garden is already a success even though we have only planted twice and have not yet seen the fruits of our labor.

After receiving our supplies we invited our partner school to join us for a day of planting. Our first grade class has a partnership with another school of fifth grade students. These students came to visit and we used your wonderful gifts to plant daffodil bulbs, tulips, grass seed and crocus. It was a beautiful day in the fall and the students were wearing gardening gloves when planting their bulbs. Some students encountered earthworms, up close for the very first time. While planting one student commented, "These gloves ,make these worms, not so creepy." We look forward to sending you pictures in the spring when the flowers are blooming.

After winter break, we returned and began some indoor planting of Dwarf Marigolds and Butterfly Weed. These flower seeds were donated by the Kinder-Garden Seed Company (a kindergarten class in another school). Our class will be sending correspondences to the kindergarten class about the success of our seed growth.

As you can see, your donation has joined over 50 students in three different schools. The real pleasure will begin when the correspondences start between our partnerships, documenting and sharing the growth of our garden. Our students are very excited about learning more about gardening and the life cycle of plants. Everyday we are patiently waiting to see a sprout. Even though one has not come up yet, students swear they see them everyday. I can't wait until one actually shows itself.

The Urban Garden will be implemented throughout the entire year supplementing our current science curriculum. This project will also enrich our writing, math and language curriculum. We look forward to sending updates as our plants begin to grow, as quickly as our imaginations.

Thank you for your support, ”

With gratitude,

Ms. Balanovich