Fiesta de la Huerta

On June 9th, 2012, the Garden School Foundation will host its yearly Fiesta de la Huerta at the 24th Street Elementary and neighboring Widney High Schools. Set amid the ¾ acre kitchen garden and community orchard, the Fiesta ...

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Workday 3!

November 19 was our third workday of the school year. Both the sky and the forecast threatened rain, but we were determined to soldier on no matter what, and invited people to the garden rain or shine. But nature complied, as did our volunteer list. It never rained, but was cool enough that no one got too hot or miserable. We had at least 50 people there

We got huge amounts of work done. In the photo above, people are clearing our former melon and pumpkin patch of the final crops and the weeds that threatened to overrun that fertile soil. Once the weeds were gone, we planted cover crops of borrage and clover to stave of the grasses that want to take over, and replenish some of the nutrients our plants took out. The cover crops will grow there until we're ready to plant in the space again, at which time they'll be mixed directly into the soil and turned into compost right there on the spot. While the adults were using the big tools, the kids were working too.

They brought their little brothers and weeded...

...they dug holes, filled in holes, and looked for bugs... 

...and they planted peas.

We got an amazing amount of work done and our best turn out yet. It is so gratifying to see the pride the community -- students, parents, neighbors, everyone! -- takes in this garden that we love so much. At the end of the day, we were able to send families home with bags bursting with collard greens, chard, kale, mint and other herbs. All of which was grown in beds that were tended to at previous workdays. To everyone who came:Thank you so much for your help. To everyone else: see you next time, December 10th, 9 am!

When Kids Make Salads

 Who says kids won't love a healthy snack?

Quite often when we tell people what we teach our kids in cooking class their response is, "Do they even like it?" Every time, with a satisfying smile, we reply, "Yes, they do!" And our doubter is left amazed. Take our Fourth Graders for example:

We walked Ms. Lafleur's fourth grade class to the orchard and began to harvest some of the last Granny Smith and Fuji apples of the year. The kids were literally jumping with excitement over the prospect of picking this delicious fruit.  After we collected a bowlful of apples and took it back to the table, we washed and cut the apples.  The students then learned all about fennel and chopped the bulb up as well.  They also cut up some mint and sorrel they had harvested from the garden and tossed it all with a squeeze of lemon, a drizzle of olive oil and a sprinkle of salt. Finally, we took our forks in hand, and as a class we counted "one...two...three"...and we all tasted it! At first it was quiet, as everyone chewed up their first bite.  But then, the exclamations started coming from all directions! "This is GOOD!!"  "I love it!" "I'm going to want some more!" Every single student had  something wonderful to say about the tastiness of this snack.  Then from the side I kept hearing, "Miss Cassie, Miss Cassie" and so I walked over to my friend at the table.  He stood up and looked at me with an almost desperate countenance and pleaded "Please! Can I take this recipe home and give it to my mom so that she can make it for me for my birthday?!?" At once my heart was overjoyed at this most sincere stamp of approval.

Fourth graders enjoying the salad

Try it for yourself and tell us what you think! 

Apple Fennel Salad 

Ingredients: 

2 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and halved

2 bulbs fennel, sliced thin

1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice

2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint

optional: 1/4th cup chopped sorrel

1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil

salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Method:

 1.  Cut the apple into thin slices and place in a medium bowl with the fennel and sorrel.

 2. Whisk together the lemon juice, mint, and olive oil in a small bowl.

 3. Toss the apples, fennel and sorrel with the vinaigrette and season to taste with salt and pepper.

 4. Enjoy!

Harvest Moon

As I type this, I can hear the gentle chords of Neil Young's Harvest Moon playing in the background filling me up with fond memories of a night that just passed us by.  The Harvest Moon Celebration, Garden School Foundation's annual fundraiser, was this last Saturday.

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Work Day: January 30, 2010!

Happy New Year! GSF will be hosting the first monthly workday of 2010 on Saturday, 1/30 (9am -12pm) at the 24th Street School. Please mark your calendars. Bring your garden gear (garden gloves, some water, sunscreen, a shovel or pitchfork). We will continue our winter planting (including another 20 new fruit trees donated from Tree People!) in both the kitchen and California native gardens, build some infrastructure (benches, compost sifters, etc.), make new beds, and many other tasks.

The address is: 2055 West 24th Street, Los Angeles

From the I-10 Freeway: take the "Western Avenue" exit (3 miles west of downtown) and head south on Western. Take a right turn on 24th Street. The school and parking lot will be on the right-hand side on the east side of school. There will be plenty of street parking as well. Look for the banner reading "24th Street School Workday" and enter through those gates.

We look forward to seeing you then!