Our school vegetable garden for Comenius project FOOD4LIFE Kalfagianio Junior High School of Filia LesvosGREECE April 2013

Constructing our composter We decided to construct a composter so that we could Recycle organic material Recycle organic material Produce organic fertilizer and use it to our garden Produce organic fertilizer and use it to our garden 3/12/2012

we used pallets

Filling the composter We filled the composter with 1 part of food waste and a small amount of manure. This is the green material full of nitrogen. 1 part of food waste and a small amount of manure. This is the green material full of nitrogen. 3 parts of yellow leaves, branches and sawdust. This is the brown material full of carbon. 3 parts of yellow leaves, branches and sawdust. This is the brown material full of carbon. 13/12/2012

preparing the organic material

we used boxes to maintain the ratio 3/1

Preparing the soil for our garden We had to pull out the weeds and rocks, add some manure, and mix it with the soil. 16/12/2012

before

working in the garden

and after

The first seeds We carefully purchased our vegetable seeds and made a garden plan so we can take advantage of all the space of our small garden. Then we used a pot tray with 100 places to grow our first seeds : lettuce, coriander, cardamon and mint. 4/2/2013

our first garden plan

some of the seeds

planting in the pot tray

First sowing Our first sowing and planting in the garden took place in mid February, during an unexpectedly hot and sunny day. We planted spinach, onion, rocket, peas and broad beans. 15/2/2013

planting in the garden

our lettuces are getting bigger

Fencing our garden One day we noticed footprints in the garden. So we decided to build a fence around our garden and protect our seedlings from naughty animals! 25/2/2013

our garden is now safe

Transplanting On the 7th of March we transferred the lettuce, coriander and cardamom from the pot tray to small pots. Unfortunately the mint didn’t grow. 7/3/2013

progress of the garden and pot tray

transplanting

and the result

The composter is full Once a week we checked the composter’s humidity and mixed all the materials. We stopped adding materials when the composter was full. 9/3/2013

our full composter

some caterpillars lost their way

Construction of our small greenhouse A small but greedy snail ate 11 lettuces! Also, the constant rain and wind was threatening our lettuce, coriander and cardamom seeds. So we decided to build a greenhouse and protect our seedlings. 14/3/2013

our garden from above

broad beans are growing fast

our little greenhouse

“Imported” worms We found some worms and put them in our composter. We found some worms and put them in our composter. Worms help to mix the compost ingredients and keep the air flowing. Our compost is not ready yet. We hope that hot weather will help us. Our compost is not ready yet. We hope that hot weather will help us. 19/3/2013

worms in the pot and in the composter

Latest news This week we planted carrots and parsley. We also transferred the lettuces to bigger pots. 29/3/2013

the garden

and the greenhouse pots

the latest photograph of our garden 21/3/2013