Fish in the giant tube!
The rainwater system is getting installed.
We need some small, hardy fish for mosquito control in the wetland pools.
The front bed (soil filled) is now mostly planted with vegetable seed. No germination yet: it wasn't really watered enough to wet the soil more than a fraction of an inch.
More seed is on order.
We've lost one or two members since we started, and gained three. Welcome!
Still no responses to this blog from anybody. :-( Students report that my email invitations haven't gotten through.
The most tender plants have been moved up to the third floor until we're more certain of the heat situation.
I observed on last Thursday that on a windy day, cold air blew from the greenhouse into the building when the connecting windows were opened. That means that sometimes keeping the windows open would not heat the greenhouse, but instead cause cold air to be sucked into the greenhouse. That could be countered if we had a fan blowing air from inside the school into the greenhouse. But we'd need electricity first for that.
There was an excellent meeting of the science faculty two weeks ago to show off the outdoor classroom, and push to get it used.
Ms. Williams is interested in getting a digital recording sensor for temperature in the greenhouse. Somewhere around $40.
Some brave volunteers are bringing home seed and pots to get the seedlings started in warmer conditions.
I've asked Ms. Aronsen for another table for my room. I'll place it against the radiator in front of the window, top it and the radiator with a plastic sheet, and have a growing table with bottom heat for starting seedlings. Once they're germinated, they can be moved into the cooler greenhouse.
Thursday, December 14, 2006
Monday, November 20, 2006
Short week! No AA meeting.
However, there are a few things we can chat about.
First, looking at the Chilterns catalog, I think instead we'll order again from Thompson and Morgan. I'm thinking mostly of things that germinate and grow well at cool temperatures. Here's the current list I'm thinking of:
* Alyssum 'Aphrodite Mix'
* Sweet Pea 'T&M Prize'
* Snap Pea 'Sugar Ann'
If you look at the web site (or the printed catalog -- Linda has it) and see something else suited for winter growing, please mention it in a response to this post.
Checking my old seeds, I found some good cool-weather crops:
Swiss Chard 'Bright Lights' (beautiful multi-colored stalks!)
Turnip 'Oasis' (fast, small, tender, sweet, white)
Radish 'Gourmet Blend' (radishes are the fastest vegetables)
Cucumber 'Long White' (bet you never saw one with a white skin)
Beet 'Chiogga' (pink and white striped!)
We've now got a partial schedule for watering and tidying the greenhouse:
Monday R5: Linda Nguyen
Tuesday: open
Wednesday R7: Tom Burke
Thursday: open
Friday R2: Christina Ho
On Friday, I noticed that the first morning glory seed had sprouted. Very soon we'll need some sort of trellising or netting for the vines to grow on. Things are going to start popping fairly soon.
We should arrange some after-school field trips: these will require parents to drive you students. I can't without elaborate permissions and insurance issues. I'm thinking of field trips to places like Mahoney's or Russell's or the city greenhouses. Or maybe we can see the Isabella Stuart Gardiner Museum's facilities.
I've got a load of dead leaves to stick in the compost bin with some worms that were brought in on Friday. I could use some help carrying them in from my car. I also have an Epiphyllum cactus to transplant and a couple of Clivias to bring in.
We should organize some way for us to be in the greenhouse more often, perhaps immediately before or after school. It's really cool to be able to check the plants daily.
First, looking at the Chilterns catalog, I think instead we'll order again from Thompson and Morgan. I'm thinking mostly of things that germinate and grow well at cool temperatures. Here's the current list I'm thinking of:
* Alyssum 'Aphrodite Mix'
* Sweet Pea 'T&M Prize'
* Snap Pea 'Sugar Ann'
If you look at the web site (or the printed catalog -- Linda has it) and see something else suited for winter growing, please mention it in a response to this post.
Checking my old seeds, I found some good cool-weather crops:
Swiss Chard 'Bright Lights' (beautiful multi-colored stalks!)
Turnip 'Oasis' (fast, small, tender, sweet, white)
Radish 'Gourmet Blend' (radishes are the fastest vegetables)
Cucumber 'Long White' (bet you never saw one with a white skin)
Beet 'Chiogga' (pink and white striped!)
We've now got a partial schedule for watering and tidying the greenhouse:
Monday R5: Linda Nguyen
Tuesday: open
Wednesday R7: Tom Burke
Thursday: open
Friday R2: Christina Ho
On Friday, I noticed that the first morning glory seed had sprouted. Very soon we'll need some sort of trellising or netting for the vines to grow on. Things are going to start popping fairly soon.
We should arrange some after-school field trips: these will require parents to drive you students. I can't without elaborate permissions and insurance issues. I'm thinking of field trips to places like Mahoney's or Russell's or the city greenhouses. Or maybe we can see the Isabella Stuart Gardiner Museum's facilities.
I've got a load of dead leaves to stick in the compost bin with some worms that were brought in on Friday. I could use some help carrying them in from my car. I also have an Epiphyllum cactus to transplant and a couple of Clivias to bring in.
We should organize some way for us to be in the greenhouse more often, perhaps immediately before or after school. It's really cool to be able to check the plants daily.
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
Greenhouse Club Planning 11/16/06
Here's the first picture of our greenhouse classroom on the web.
I'll use it on the blog page, but replace it as we fill the greenhouse and get a more interesting view.
This week I'd like to do a few minor things:
(1) Clean the greenhouse so that it is presentable for Parent's Night.
(2) Get email addresses so that we all can post to this blog (beyond comments.)
(3) Line up a few people to do short reports on interesting topics.
(4) Think about other seeds we're interested in buying. The next order will go to Chilterns, which is linked on the right.
I'll use it on the blog page, but replace it as we fill the greenhouse and get a more interesting view.
This week I'd like to do a few minor things:
(1) Clean the greenhouse so that it is presentable for Parent's Night.
(2) Get email addresses so that we all can post to this blog (beyond comments.)
(3) Line up a few people to do short reports on interesting topics.
(4) Think about other seeds we're interested in buying. The next order will go to Chilterns, which is linked on the right.
Thursday, November 09, 2006
Greenhouse Club Planning 11/9/06
As a simple solution for communicating and sharing pictures, I’ve started a blog for the greenhouse classroom at: http://greenhouseclassroom.blogspot.com/
Everybody can post responses to the blog, but I will set up folks to create new postings if you simply email me at mhuben@world.std.com.
I’d really like somebody to “own” the blog and change its style and template to something beautiful.
We should all check the blog at least once a week.
We can now set up a schedule of volunteers for watering, cleaning, and other regular needs. My idea is one volunteer per day during a volunteer’s study. I can write a pass allowing you to leave your study to work in the greenhouse.
Today we’re going to get some seeds planted, and once again we’ll use plastic bags to ensure that moisture stays high. Because of the cool conditions in the greenhouse, seed germination will be fairly slow: we may want to take some planted seed home with us or find a warmer windowsill in the school.
I still want people to bring in cuttings and find seed to grow. For example, a trip to the Arboretum could result in lots of tree seed. One of the more interesting seed you can gather on city streets is black locust tree seed: you’ll spot foot-long, twisty black pods hanging from the trees. The seedlings are beautiful and ferny, but the seed needs a special trick to germinate.
And finally, we need to start sharing our interests in plants with each other. I’m thinking that we could each give a little 5 minute talk on some aspect of plants that intrigues us, that we’ve done a little research on. Present a book or article you’ve recently read.
Everybody can post responses to the blog, but I will set up folks to create new postings if you simply email me at mhuben@world.std.com.
I’d really like somebody to “own” the blog and change its style and template to something beautiful.
We should all check the blog at least once a week.
We can now set up a schedule of volunteers for watering, cleaning, and other regular needs. My idea is one volunteer per day during a volunteer’s study. I can write a pass allowing you to leave your study to work in the greenhouse.
Today we’re going to get some seeds planted, and once again we’ll use plastic bags to ensure that moisture stays high. Because of the cool conditions in the greenhouse, seed germination will be fairly slow: we may want to take some planted seed home with us or find a warmer windowsill in the school.
I still want people to bring in cuttings and find seed to grow. For example, a trip to the Arboretum could result in lots of tree seed. One of the more interesting seed you can gather on city streets is black locust tree seed: you’ll spot foot-long, twisty black pods hanging from the trees. The seedlings are beautiful and ferny, but the seed needs a special trick to germinate.
And finally, we need to start sharing our interests in plants with each other. I’m thinking that we could each give a little 5 minute talk on some aspect of plants that intrigues us, that we’ve done a little research on. Present a book or article you’ve recently read.
Greenhouse Club Planning 11/2/06
The greenhouse club is starting with a few high and low priority goals.
• Have fun! Grow lots of stuff! Learn about plants!
• Set up a schedule of volunteers for watering, cleaning, and other regular needs.
• Create a group of knowledgable students who can assist teachers and students in use of the greenhouse for classes.
• Create rules for greenhouse usage to prevent problems.
• Improve the greenhouse gradually with some well-chosen additions.
Initial rules:
• All plants must be labeled with the plant’s caretaker and the supervising teacher’s name.
• No pesticides may be sprayed without authorization.
• Students must have faculty with them in the greenhouse.
• White surfaced tables are for work, not growing.
• Greenhouse must be kept tidy and clean.
Startup:
• GET THINGS GROWING!
• Secretary to record rules, notes from meetings, etc.
• Create a schedule for watering, etc.
• What do we need?
• List problems that could be solved.
• List and plan projects to be undertaken.
• Email list or blog for the club.
• Web site?
What do YOU want to do?
• Have fun! Grow lots of stuff! Learn about plants!
• Set up a schedule of volunteers for watering, cleaning, and other regular needs.
• Create a group of knowledgable students who can assist teachers and students in use of the greenhouse for classes.
• Create rules for greenhouse usage to prevent problems.
• Improve the greenhouse gradually with some well-chosen additions.
Initial rules:
• All plants must be labeled with the plant’s caretaker and the supervising teacher’s name.
• No pesticides may be sprayed without authorization.
• Students must have faculty with them in the greenhouse.
• White surfaced tables are for work, not growing.
• Greenhouse must be kept tidy and clean.
Startup:
• GET THINGS GROWING!
• Secretary to record rules, notes from meetings, etc.
• Create a schedule for watering, etc.
• What do we need?
• List problems that could be solved.
• List and plan projects to be undertaken.
• Email list or blog for the club.
• Web site?
What do YOU want to do?
Sunday, November 05, 2006
Welcome!
Welcome to the Boston Latin Academy greenhouse classroom blog!
It's purpose is to simplify communications between greenhouse users by providing an easy-to-find repository for information, discussions, and plans for the greenhouse classroom.
The first users will be the greenhouse club that I'm running. Then we'll add whoever else in faculty, administration, or among the other students.
Membership is required to post or respond: that helps to avoid spam.
I've selected a blog because it should be easy to beautify it and incorporate photos. It's open to all to view, though not publicized. Students should not use full names in their blogger ID's or include other contact information for basic privacy and security reasons.
It's purpose is to simplify communications between greenhouse users by providing an easy-to-find repository for information, discussions, and plans for the greenhouse classroom.
The first users will be the greenhouse club that I'm running. Then we'll add whoever else in faculty, administration, or among the other students.
Membership is required to post or respond: that helps to avoid spam.
I've selected a blog because it should be easy to beautify it and incorporate photos. It's open to all to view, though not publicized. Students should not use full names in their blogger ID's or include other contact information for basic privacy and security reasons.
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