What Are They Eating At Our Nation's Captiol?

We have a new President.
On Jan 20, 2009 our 44th President, Barack Obama, was sworn in. After the ceremony invited guests had lunch together. Because President Obama, and our 16th President, Abraham Lincoln, were Senators from the same state, (Illinois) the lunch had a theme - a tribute to history and Abe Lincoln. The recipes for the lunch were reported to be some of Mr. Lincoln's favorite foods. Abe liked winter veggies like potatoes, sweet potatoes, carrots, onions, and beans.

Our school gardens have some of those same kinds of veggies growing in them right now!

***Look for lettuce, spinach, peas, swiss chard, and squash at the
5th Annual MMES Farmer's Market Jan 28, 2009 (3-6pm) & 29th (1-3pm) in the school courtyard. Donations benefit the local food bank and MMES garden program.

1. Can you think of 3 things Abraham Lincoln and President Obama have in common?
2. What are 3 differences between Mr. Lincoln and President Obama?

3. What is the capitol of Illinois?

Search the Internet with your family to find recipes and perhaps even a cooking video of food served at the recent luncheon. (Great inspiration for our MMES 5th grade chefs.)

A Simple Way to Taste What's Going On.

Welcome back gardeners. Happy 2009. We get requests for this recipe every year. Many classrooms snacked on this before winter break. Remember the best way to feed your brain is by eating fresh natural foods.

Click recipe card for larger view.

What's growing?

Have you seen this?

Hint: You can see this vine with purple flowers climbing near a yellow shrub and close to painted gourd birdhouses.

When Spanish explorers first encountered the Indians of Peru and Brazil, they found this plant used in native folk medicine as a sedative. They took it back to Spain, and then it gradually spread throughout Europe.

There are more than 400 varieties of this plant throughout the world today. Common names are: Maypop herb, Apricot vine, and Passion Vine.

http://www.springboard4health.com/notebook/herbs_passion_flower.html

Red Ribbon Week Red Poppies

The most delightful thing about a garden is the anticipation it provides.
- W.E. Johns

Students planted Red Poppy seeds during Red Ribbon Week. We won't see them bloom until the spring. Watching and waiting will help to remind us to make good choices all year long.

Did you know that in just one pod there are thousands of seeds smaller than a grain of sand? Students planted the Poppy seeds we collected from last year in the gardens this year.

It begins with a seed...

Fall Planting

We have three triangle and one rectangle shaped gardens. Students plant their seeds in the fall. We talk about the size, shape, color of the seeds, what type of plant will grow, and how long the seed will take to germinate or sprout. We are lucky to have (2) planting seasons. Gardeners in states with colder climates are cleaning and covering their gardens for the cold winter.

We know radishes are the first to peek out of the soil. We planted in October and we already have a few small radishes to harvest!