Author Archives: Sasha Harris-Lovett
Biology of the Flower
Springtime is a great time to study botany in the garden, because we have a large and diverse group of flowering plants in full bloom. The seventh grade curriculum includes the anatomy and reproduction of flowering plants, and the garden is a perfect place to explore the topic. Seventh grade ears immediately tune in when [...]
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Transforming Space
To most people at King Middle School, the weed-filled, litter-strewn triangle between the garden and the basketball courts was a forgotten piece of land. Students and teachers walked through it and looked over it without ever really noticing it. Recently, however, garden staff started eying the area more critically after Dave Wilson Nursery generously donated [...]
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The Art of Grafting Apple Trees
One part cloning, one part surgery, and one part fruit production: grafting apple trees is an irresistible combination for our sixth grade students in the garden. This is the second year we have had grafting classes with students, and our success last year at making viable apple trees inspired to us to order more root [...]
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EcoFarm Conference
As the thickest part of winter rolls around, the garden staff gets excited about the Ecological Farming Conference in Monterey. Amidst pouring rain, raging winds, and the occasional lull in the weather accented by rainbows, the garden teachers attended this year’s conference, entitled “EcoFarm: Where the Future is Planted.” The conference is an excellent opportunity [...]
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The Olive Harvest
We have waited in eager anticipation of the olive harvest, and this week the majority of the olives have reached the desired plumpness, color, and maturity. Olives are fun to pick, and many students enjoy climbing into the lower branches of the trees to harvest the firm, round fruits. The ripe olives are a beautiful, [...]
Alegria and the Rain
We had our first real rain of the year this week, an all-out storm that dumped fat droplets of water on us for nearly twenty four hours straight. The streets in Berkeley flowed with rushing water and the blacktop at King transformed into an enormous shallow wading pool. The garden, however, loved the rain and [...]
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Apple Cider Making
As the seasons turn and the days start to get shorter, we are enjoying the bounty of ripe fruit and vegetables in the garden. Every year, we like to usher in the autumn with an apple cider making activity. Each 6th grade class gets to make fresh pressed apple cider using a wooden, hand-cranked press. [...]
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Preparing for the Plant Sale