Veggie Bytes. Ponchatoula High School Students Present Food for Thought a Farm-to-Table Dining Experience February March April Volume 3, Issue 1

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2012 February March April Volume 3, Issue 1 Ponchatoula High School Students Present Food for Thought a Farm-to-Table Dining Experience INSIDE THIS ISSUE Ponchatoula High Presents Food for Thought

Alice Dubois, 220 Agri Science and Future Farmers of America (FFA) students at Ponchatoula High have constructed and maintained 75 4x8ft raised beds and 15 wheel chair accessible gardens.

Dubois and New Orleans chef Dickie Brennon have partnered to create a farmto table fundraiser benefit dinner. The event is billed as Food for Thought, Ponchatoula s Culinary Event of the Year.

1 2012 February March April Volume 3, Issue 1 Ponchatoula High School Students Present Food for Thought a Farm-to-Table Dining Experience INSIDE THIS ISSUE Ponchatoula High Presents Food for Thought What s Growing 2 Soil is so much 3 Connecting the Classroom: Vericomposting for the classroom 1 4 Taste Test/Soil Test 6 5 Under the direction of Ms. Alice Dubois, 220 Agri Science and Future Farmers of America (FFA) students at Ponchatoula High have constructed and maintained 75 4x8ft raised beds and 15 wheel chair accessible gardens. Students grow vegetables, strawberries and herbs in both spring and summer gardens. Excess produce has been donated to local homeless shelters, food banks, and senior citizen apartment complexes. Ms. Dubois and New Orleans chef Dickie Brennon have partnered to create a farmto table fundraiser benefit dinner. The event is billed as Food for Thought, Ponchatoula s Culinary Event of the Year. In addition to growing produce in the garden, students also began raising duck to add to their menu. Local producers Covey Rise Farms, Community Coffee, Old New Orleans Louisiana Rum, Cajun Grains, P&J, and Abita Springs have already committed to sponsorship of this event, and students are encouraging other local producers to join in. When asked how many hours it has taken to coordinate this event, Ms. Dubois stated It was impossible to determine. This is such a team effort. Anyone who wants to do something like this has to be really passionate about what they do. Ms. Dubois adds A farm to table meal is an excellent concept that can be used to teach so many different things from world hunger to local food production. Focus on what you want to accomplish. We want to make this an educational event. We want anyone who comes to this event to leave with a much greater understanding of the farmers in the community and the availability of fresh food to all groups, to understand that there is food insecurity in our local community Dubois said. Page Ponchatoula High Agri Science and FFA students enjoying their garden. Alice Dubois has taught Agri Science courses for 17 years. She continues to incorporate horticulture concepts into her curriculum because she believes it is a great learning tool for students, not only to learn about plant science and environmental issues, but they (the students) see value in what they are doing. They learn the skill of growing and providing food for themselves and their families. Alice works closely with Mrs. Sandra Benjamin, the county agent in Tangipahoa parish. Sandra Benjamin and other county agents are excellent resources provided by the LSU AgCenter to schools across the state. Continued on page 6

What s Growing! Gardening tips Start gearing up for your spring vegetable garden now so that you can harvest produce before school lets out for the summer.

2 What s Growing! Gardening tips Start gearing up for your spring vegetable garden now so that you can harvest produce before school lets out for the summer. Typically in Louisiana, spring vegetable crops are not planted outdoors before the last frost date. South Louisiana gardeners can plant around March 15 th, North Louisiana gardeners should wait until April 1 st. However, if you want to harvest a few ripe tomatoes, peppers, etc. before school lets out you ll need to start transplants indoors. To grow transplants, plant seeds into containers in a sterile soil germinating mix indoors (in a sunny window). Do not move these transplants or seedlings into the garden until they have developed their first true leaves and after the last chance of frost. See the planting guide for vegetables that can be planted now. Vegetables to plant in February In the garden direct seed: beets, turnips, mustard, parsley, radishes, lettuce, snap beans and Irish potatoes. In the garden plant transplants of: broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, and lettuce. In the classroom: start transplants of tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant. Vegetables to Plant in March In the garden direct seed: snap beans, Swiss chard, radish, lettuce, collard greens, mustards, and turnips. In the garden plant transplants of: tomatoes, peppers and eggplants. In the classroom: start cucumber transplants, plant after last frost If you have a year round school program or summer classes that will care for and work in the garden, you can also plant the following vegetables. Sweet corn can be directly seeded into the garden in LATE February. Plant cantaloupes, squash, cucumbers, and watermelons well after danger of frost is over. This is usually after March 15 th in south Louisiana and closer to April 1 in North Louisiana. Okra, Southern peas (field peas), peanuts, pumpkins, winter squash, summer squash, and sweet corn can be direct seeded into the garden in April. These vegetables are not generally recommended for school gardens that will not be tended by students during the summer. Students should be allowed to harvest everything they plant. Soil! Get the Inside Scoop by David Lindbo and others. Suggested book: Copyrighted by the Soil Science Society of America, Inc. ISBN # This is a wonderful book covering all aspects of soil from formation through uses, benefits and soil types. A must read for all life science and earth and space science teachers! Although this book was written for students ages 9 12, I think it is an excellent resource for all classrooms. Vegetables to plant in April In the garden direct seed: snap beans, butter beans, radish, collards, and cucumbers. In the garden transplant: sweet potato slips, tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant. Page 2

3 Soil is so much more than dirt! Soil. It is one of our most underappreci ated natural resources. Oil, coal, and natural gas may dominate modern media, but with out soil, you would be hungry and naked. Think about it. From the soil, we grow vast amounts of crops (corn, oats, wheat, rice, bar ley, sunflower, potatoes, etc.); staples which we depend upon for everything from bread to potato chips. Wood for home construction comes from trees supported by soil. Soil puri fies our water, insulates us from extreme temperatures, even forms bricks from which our cities are built. Ancient civilizations have risen and fallen based upon their soil re sources, and today with the world population exceeding 7 billion, soil is more important than ever. But how do you determine the best uses for your soil? Pedologists are specially trained soil scientists who study the soil and its prop erties. They evaluate a wide range of physical, chemical, and biological soil properties and group soils into a taxonomic classification sys tem which helps landowners and farmers un derstand how to use their soil resources wisely. needle and leaf detritus laid upon the surface, and animal manures spread far and wide. Did you know there are more microorganisms in one tablespoon of soil, than there are people living on earth? These microorganisms help to make medicines that keep us safe from disease. But soil does much more than that Special clays and organic matter in the soil store nutrients needed by plants. In essence, they are like Mother Nature s own fertilizer. Soils store water as it slowly percolates through the various layers and pro vide shelter for a wide range of animals. Soil science is a wonderful career which integrates a number of different scientific disciplines such as chemistry, physics, geology, and biology. You might think soil scientists dig around all day in the sun with shovels. On the contrary, soil scientists use some of the most cutting edge scientific equipment available such as portable x ray fluorescence spectrometry, diffuse reflectance spectrometry, ground penetrating radar, neutron probes, satellite imagery, geographic information systems, and laser induced breakdown spectroscopy. Whether you re looking for a challenging career, or just wanting to learn more about soils, check out these great web resources: Re member; soil is much more than dirt! Be good stewards of the soil for future generations and touch the land lightly. David Weindorf Desert soils laden with gypsum in southeastern New Mexico. Using field portable x-ray fluorescence spectrometry to assess peri-urban heavy metal contamination in soils of southern Louisiana. Soil is essentially a loose collection of very small mineral grains; sand, silt, and clay, in various proportions. Organic matter is added to this mix via the degradation of old roots, Page 3 Sampling a volcanic ash soil in northern Idaho

4 Connecting the Classroom to the Garden Which Soil Is Best? Materials Needed: Dixie cups Pencils Sharpie markers Bean, lettuce, radish seeds Watering can 4 types of soil: 1 bag of sand, 1 bag of top soil, 1 bag of peat moss, and soil from the school yard or your backyard A sunny window sill or outdoor space (full sunlight) A tray Instructions: Divide students into groups of 3 to 4. Provide each group with 4 Dixie cups. Have students poke one to two holes in the bottom of each Dixie cup (this is for drainage). Label each cup with the Group name Plant type grown (bean, radish or lettuce) Type of soil used. You may do this activity with only one type of plant but using several is more fun. Each plant MUST be grown in all four soil types. Fill each label cup with soil. Fill cups to the top and water in. The soil will settle. Next plant the seeds. Seeds should only be planted two times as deep as they are wide! Planting the seeds too deep will result in poor germination. Water the cups as needed. Cups will feel light weight when they need water. Make sure soil remains damp but not saturated. Placing the cups on a tray will help contain any water that runs out of the cups. Keep cups in a very sunny location! Over the next 3 weeks record: Days to germination Plant height Give a visual rating on color (pale green, yellow, medium green, dark green). After all of the data is collected. Ask students to report their results to the class. Make a chart on the board to record class data. Which soil grew the best plants? Did different soils work better for different plants? Page 4

5 Basic Vermicomposting for the Classroom and Home Why Vermicomposting? Quickly, easily, and inexpensively produce nutrient packed soil amendment for gardens and/or potted plants. Increase the beneficial microorganisms and kill the pathogenic bacteria in the soil. Recycle kitchen scraps and newspapers, reducing landfill waste. Create a great classroom project! How does it work? Earthworms eat ½ their body weight each day so one pound of earthworms ( worms) can eat ½ pound of kitchen scraps/paper each day. As the ingested material moves through the earthworm digestive tract, nutrients and beneficial microorganisms are added so the final product (worm poop or castings ) is much better for plants than ordinary soil. What materials do I need to set up a vermicomposting bin? One gallon plastic containers (not clear) with lids, deep. Drill with ¼ bit. Bedding: Shredded newspaper (no slick pages), crushed leaves, garden soil (a couple of hand fulls), water. (Note: The worms will eat the bedding as well as food you add.) Earthworms need to be red wrigglers (Available at bait stores or can be ordered) Adequate location: Fairly dark and quiet, 40º 80º F (indoors in Louisiana), away from strong vibrations. Building the bin: Drill about 20 evenly spaced holes in the bottom of the container for drainage. Drill holes in the lid of the container for air. Put bedding and garden soil in the container up to about 10 and moisten thoroughly with water. (Do this outside and let the excess water drain out the bottom before adding the worms.) Add worms and cover with lid. If the bin is to be kept inside, you will need a second container to catch any drainage from the bin. Place bricks in second container. Place bin with worms and bedding on top of the bricks. Do not feed or disturb worms for 2 3 days so they can get established. How and what do I feed them? Feed your worms by digging a shallow hole, putting in scraps, and covering with bedding. Fruit and vegetable scraps (stay away from citrus and onions) Coffee grounds with filter Tea bags (remove the staple) Crushed egg shells (cooked only) Do not feed meat, dairy products, or oily foods. When and how do I harvest the vermicompost? Depending on how many worms you have, it will take 3 5 months to complete the compost. When you look in the bin, there will be no recognizable pieces of newspaper or other bedding. Move bedding with worms to one end of the bin. Add fresh bedding to the other end and feed worms in fresh bedding. After a couple of weeks most of the worms will have moved to the fresh bedding in search of food. Remove the used bedding (vermicompost) and add to your potted plants or garden. Grace Peterson, PhD Watch your plants grow! This material was funded by USDA s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). SNAP provides nutrition assistance to people with low income. It can help you buy nutritious foods for a better diet. To find out more, contact LA HELPU. This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Page 5

TASTE TEST R E C I P E A+ SOIL TEST Don t guess, soil test! What Child hasn't eaten a little dirt? It's just part of growing up.

9 ounce) packages of instant chocolate pudding mix 3 cups of milk 1 (12 ounce) container whip cream Enough gummi worms for each students to have two or three is his or her cup Small disposable clear

Beat on low speed to mix then beat on medium speed until smooth. Add the chocolate pudding mix and milk. Combine ingredients by beating on low speed. 3.

Assemble ingredients in small clear party cups in layers: first layer, 1/3 cookie crumbs; second layer, 1/2 pudding mixture; third layer, 1/3 cookie crumbs; fifth layer, 1/3 cookie crumbs. 5.

6 TASTE TEST R E C I P E A+ SOIL TEST Don t guess, soil test! What Child hasn't eaten a little dirt? It's just part of growing up. Here we've provided a tastier, healthier option of eating dirt than what's lying on the playground! Prepare with your class and enjoy the sweet taste of gardening! What You ll Need: 2 (20 ounce) packages of Oreo cookies (or other brand) chocolate with crème filling. ½ stick of butter softened 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened 1 cup of powder sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 (3.9 ounce) packages of instant chocolate pudding mix 3 cups of milk 1 (12 ounce) container whip cream Enough gummi worms for each students to have two or three is his or her cup Small disposable clear party cups. Putting It Together. 1. Place the cookies in a food processor and blend until they become fine crumbs. 2. Mix the butter, cream cheese, powder sugar and vanilla in a large bowl. Beat on low speed to mix then beat on medium speed until smooth. Add the chocolate pudding mix and milk. Combine ingredients by beating on low speed. 3. Fold the whip crème into the pudding mixture with a rubber spatula. 4. Assemble ingredients in small clear party cups in layers: first layer, 1/3 cookie crumbs; second layer, 1/2 pudding mixture; third layer, 1/3 cookie crumbs; fifth layer, 1/3 cookie crumbs Tuck the gummy worms in the "dirt" cup. Chill for at least 3 hours before serving. Kathryn KiKi Fontenot, Ph.D. Visit our website: Louisiana State University Agricultural Center William B. Richardson, Chancellor Louisiana Agricultural Experiment Station John S. Russin, Interim Vice Chancellor and Director Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service Paul D. Coreil, Vice Chancellor and Director The LSU AgCenter is a statewide campus of the LSU System and provides equal opportunities in programs and employment. 2. Sample to depth of 3" to 6" for cultivated Beds, garden rows or turf Divide into areas for sampling on basis of slope, type of plants grown, etc. 3. Take soil from at least 10 places in each area to obtain a representative sample. 4. Mix soil thoroughly. 5. Remove one pint for laboratory sample. Label with identification number on supplied sample bags. 6.Fill out sample submitting form with cash, check or Visa Number and place it in the box. Food for Thought.Cont. from page 1 The Ponchatoula High FFA team was awarded the National FFA Living to Serve Grant and were also awarded a Brown Foundation Grant that provided the students with funds to conduct Ag literacy outreach at a local elementary school by teaching better nutrition through literature. Ponchatoula High students also constructed a beautiful garden at the elementary school. WE want to educate people about the dietary benefits of fresh produce, and, at the same time, to help with the obesity epidemic in Louisiana. The Food for Thought dinner will be held at the Le Fleur de Lis Restaurant in Ponchatoula, LA on February 24, Tickets are $ per person or $75.00 per person with a table of 8 or more. Ten per cent of the proceeds will go to Our Daily Bread Food Bank and the rest of the money earned will go back to the Agri science department to conduct additional service learning projects. Page 6

Veggie Bytes. Greauxing Gumbo. Inside this Issue. Spring Edition

Veggie Bytes. Greauxing Gumbo. Inside this Issue. Spring Edition Veggie Bytes Spring Edition Feb April 2018 Volume 9, Issue 1 Inside this Issue What s Growing Gumbo Contin. Lee Road Garden 2 2 3 Recipe 4 Game 5 Book Review 6 Greauxing Gumbo Pre-K through 1st grade students