Images
6/20/22
6/20/22
The SAAC program has updated the Artful Garden by adding additional raised beds and planting an extensive variety of plants and vegetables.
The SAAC program has updated the Artful Garden by adding additional raised beds and planting an extensive variety of plants and vegetables.
These are the most current images available.
These are the most current images available.
Please enjoy!
Please enjoy!
Images from 2021
6/2/21
6/2/21
The Columbines are blooming and the carrots are now seedlings, thanks to the consistent rain over the three-day Memorial Weekend and the efforts of the SAAC program.
The Columbines are blooming and the carrots are now seedlings, thanks to the consistent rain over the three-day Memorial Weekend and the efforts of the SAAC program.
These are the most current images available.
These are the most current images available.
Please enjoy!
Please enjoy!
5/19/21
5/19/21
Centennial fifth graders ended their year focused on activism, finding area, botany, legacies and bettering the world for next year.
Centennial fifth graders ended their year focused on activism, finding area, botany, legacies and bettering the world for next year.
The students faced a problem: Using what you've learned about the formation of local, state and federal government, plant structures, financial literacy and activism, create a settlement on Mars!
The students faced a problem: Using what you've learned about the formation of local, state and federal government, plant structures, financial literacy and activism, create a settlement on Mars!
Each class had a core group of students who researched, then guided their teammates on plotting specifically where each plant would be placed in their portion of the "Community Garden."
Each class had a core group of students who researched, then guided their teammates on plotting specifically where each plant would be placed in their portion of the "Community Garden."
Students also were guided in the upkeep and the addition of plants to a memorial to a former Centennial student.
Students also were guided in the upkeep and the addition of plants to a memorial to a former Centennial student.
5/14/21
5/14/21
COVID-19 did not stop three students from Ms. Fitchett's class from planning a trip to O'Toole's Garden Center to resume fifth grade's garden activities for our school next year!
COVID-19 did not stop three students from Ms. Fitchett's class from planning a trip to O'Toole's Garden Center to resume fifth grade's garden activities for our school next year!
The students planned out the trip, walked with their teammates to pick up the ordered flowers and pay for them, then haul them back to Centennial to plant next week.
The students planned out the trip, walked with their teammates to pick up the ordered flowers and pay for them, then haul them back to Centennial to plant next week.
Each fifth grade class has a team of students who have researched, then carefully planned out what each garden plot will have in it. They're also researching how to repel voles from damaging the crops while we are away over the summer.
Each fifth grade class has a team of students who have researched, then carefully planned out what each garden plot will have in it. They're also researching how to repel voles from damaging the crops while we are away over the summer.
8/7/20
8/7/20
COVID-19's forced school closure kept the graduating fifth graders away from planning and planting crops in the Artful Garden for the 2020 growing season, so the plots have been taken-over by native weeds and "gone to seed."
COVID-19's forced school closure kept the graduating fifth graders away from planning and planting crops in the Artful Garden for the 2020 growing season, so the plots have been taken-over by native weeds and "gone to seed."
The custodians, Maria and Laura, have removed the weeds in the plots (and also around the playground) in order to prepare the grounds for our returning Centennial students.
The custodians, Maria and Laura, have removed the weeds in the plots (and also around the playground) in order to prepare the grounds for our returning Centennial students.
Two major trees blew down in the spring and had to be removed by the school district. Can you find their former locations on the school playgrounds?
Two major trees blew down in the spring and had to be removed by the school district. Can you find their former locations on the school playgrounds?
10/8/19
10/8/19
Summer, 2019 was our first growing season.
Summer, 2019 was our first growing season.
Third period is preparing the garden plot for the winter!
Third period is preparing the garden plot for the winter!
Marigolds, carrots, tomatoes, basil and leaves from the dandelion plant were harvested.
Marigolds, carrots, tomatoes, basil and leaves from the dandelion plant were harvested.
The snapdragons have continued to thrive and now present a problem: Do we pull them out, leave them in place or transfer them to a different spot in the plot?
The snapdragons have continued to thrive and now present a problem: Do we pull them out, leave them in place or transfer them to a different spot in the plot?
Another large weed, corn stalks that were planted too close together and one dying tomato plant were removed.
Another large weed, corn stalks that were planted too close together and one dying tomato plant were removed.
10/7/19
10/7/19
Second period is preparing the garden plot for the winter!
Second period is preparing the garden plot for the winter!
Marigolds, carrots, tomatoes, basil and leaves from the dandelion plant were harvested and made into a soup.
Marigolds, carrots, tomatoes, basil and leaves from the dandelion plant were harvested and made into a soup.
The unknown plant that we suspected was a weed has been removed.
The unknown plant that we suspected was a weed has been removed.
7/22/19
7/22/19
Summer, 2019 is our first growing season.
Summer, 2019 is our first growing season.
After returning from a month away, there are many changes to the garden!
After returning from a month away, there are many changes to the garden!
Lettuce, tomatoes, basil and leaves from the dandelion plant have been harvested so far.
Lettuce, tomatoes, basil and leaves from the dandelion plant have been harvested so far.
Our animal resident (a baby rabbit) left the burrow that they made in the soft soil after eating the roots of the columbine plants (too bad).
Our animal resident (a baby rabbit) left the burrow that they made in the soft soil after eating the roots of the columbine plants (too bad).
Most of the snapdragons and strawberries did not make it, but the marigolds, corn, carrots and potatoes are still growing.
Most of the snapdragons and strawberries did not make it, but the marigolds, corn, carrots and potatoes are still growing.
6/15/19
6/15/19
Summer, 2019 is our first growing season.
Summer, 2019 is our first growing season.
Basil is sprouting now and we have blooms on the tomatoes and strawberries, thanks to our SACC group and Colorado sunshine.
Basil is sprouting now and we have blooms on the tomatoes and strawberries, thanks to our SACC group and Colorado sunshine.
We also now have a new animal burrow in the plot; we are checking to see what our options are...
We also now have a new animal burrow in the plot; we are checking to see what our options are...
6/5/19
6/5/19
Carrots and marigolds are sprouting now, thanks to the consistent afternoon rains that have fallen lately.
Carrots and marigolds are sprouting now, thanks to the consistent afternoon rains that have fallen lately.
A special hose, called a soaker hose, was attached to the building spigot in order to conserve water. A soaker hose is meant to let water drip into the soil to saturate it instead of most of the water being sprayed into the air and evaporating away.
A special hose, called a soaker hose, was attached to the building spigot in order to conserve water. A soaker hose is meant to let water drip into the soil to saturate it instead of most of the water being sprayed into the air and evaporating away.
There was also a group of student gardeners planting marigolds in the space adjacent to our plots. What fun!
There was also a group of student gardeners planting marigolds in the space adjacent to our plots. What fun!
5/29/19
5/29/19
Based on the feedback of multiple gardeners and newly-available space (since the cucumber did not survive our latest freeze), two of the tomatoes were shifted to different areas of the planter box. Tomatoes need a larger area of growing space in order to give them a better maturing opportunity. Tomato cages were also installed so that the stems of the plant that eventually hold the tomatoes can be supported and don't break under the weight of the fruit.
Based on the feedback of multiple gardeners and newly-available space (since the cucumber did not survive our latest freeze), two of the tomatoes were shifted to different areas of the planter box. Tomatoes need a larger area of growing space in order to give them a better maturing opportunity. Tomato cages were also installed so that the stems of the plant that eventually hold the tomatoes can be supported and don't break under the weight of the fruit.
A sprinkler was attached to the hose and an aqua timer was added in order to conserve water. Fertilizer was also applied for the first time.
A sprinkler was attached to the hose and an aqua timer was added in order to conserve water. Fertilizer was also applied for the first time.
5/24/19
5/24/19
In the image to the left, you can see a large rock with paint on it. Those painted spots are actually thumbprints of fifth graders who helped make our school garden a reality!
In the image to the left, you can see a large rock with paint on it. Those painted spots are actually thumbprints of fifth graders who helped make our school garden a reality!
Leaders in our after-school childcare program have pledged to continue watering, weeding and harvesting over the summer.
Leaders in our after-school childcare program have pledged to continue watering, weeding and harvesting over the summer.
Incoming fifth graders planted the remaining carrots and basil on the last day of school, while exiting fifth graders planted donated dwarf sunflowers adjacent to the columbines.
Incoming fifth graders planted the remaining carrots and basil on the last day of school, while exiting fifth graders planted donated dwarf sunflowers adjacent to the columbines.
5/21: FREEZE WARNING!
5/21: FREEZE WARNING!
Most gardeners wait until after Mother's Day to plant their flowers in order to avoid weather like this.
Most gardeners wait until after Mother's Day to plant their flowers in order to avoid weather like this.
The cold can freeze the liquid in the plant cells, causing them to burst! Can you believe it?
The cold can freeze the liquid in the plant cells, causing them to burst! Can you believe it?
Gardeners will try to insulate the plants by draping an old sheet, using cardboard boxes or hanging plastic bags over young plants to protect them.
Gardeners will try to insulate the plants by draping an old sheet, using cardboard boxes or hanging plastic bags over young plants to protect them.
5/15/19
5/15/19
We are planning and plotting on paper where each plant should be planted in the garden bed areas.
We are planning and plotting on paper where each plant should be planted in the garden bed areas.
We examined the information which was available on the label that came with each plant, along with internet resources, to define the space needed for each plant to grow properly.
We examined the information which was available on the label that came with each plant, along with internet resources, to define the space needed for each plant to grow properly.
We asked our master gardener for her advice, then revised the plot plans based on her feedback.
We asked our master gardener for her advice, then revised the plot plans based on her feedback.
Students then added reminders for their teammates to the poster explaining that patting down the soil around the base of each plant was not OK and area around the plants was needed in order for them to grow properly.
Students then added reminders for their teammates to the poster explaining that patting down the soil around the base of each plant was not OK and area around the plants was needed in order for them to grow properly.
Finally, we laid out which plants were to be planted in each plot in order to help make sure that the plan was followed and no accidents happened.
Finally, we laid out which plants were to be planted in each plot in order to help make sure that the plan was followed and no accidents happened.
You can also see that students cut the seed potatoes under student and teacher supervision.
You can also see that students cut the seed potatoes under student and teacher supervision.
5/15/19
5/15/19
These are images of some of our student master gardeners at work before they taught their teammates how to plant.
These are images of some of our student master gardeners at work before they taught their teammates how to plant.
You can also see the master gardener demonstrating to the student teachers how to remove the plant from a pot and what root-binding is.
You can also see the master gardener demonstrating to the student teachers how to remove the plant from a pot and what root-binding is.
Student teachers taught their teammates how to help the roots of a plant grow outside of the space of a confining pot.
Student teachers taught their teammates how to help the roots of a plant grow outside of the space of a confining pot.