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The City of Ventura sold us 2 rain barrels. Sureflow Rain Gutters, owned by Mr. Sean Duckhart donated his materials and services to create rain gutters that flowed into our rain barrels. The head honchos at our maintenance department inspected every step of the way. Upon completion, Mr. Duckhart was offered a contract for other VUSD schools. He declined.

Our rain barrels are great. We have not utilized the spigot on these for years. insert ... photos here.

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#1. Steve Zermeno
#2  Chris Massa
#3  Alise Eschel
#4  Amy Lewandawski (VHS)
#5  Brandon Sanchez
(Student) His Dad owns a landscaping business. He, Brandon, is passionate.
#6. DonorsChoose
#7. Sanbuenaventura Garden Group
#8. Geo Group
#9. Will Rodgers (They had a grant from the GOVT Dept. of Agriculture. I'd love to learn more)
#10. Ms. Cherrie (Elmhurst). Bird Project with selfie cameras for birds.
#11. Green Thumb
#12  Lowes

Who else should or could we add to this list?

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I bought Lower Campus 2 composting barrels.

We need to start over & get rid of everything inside. We need to learn about what to compost & how to get it.

I'm thinking community service hours for clearing out the compost & put it into our brown trash can.

Who picks that up BTW?

The cafeteria and Starbucks ?? can give us materials for composting.

Insert educational video or invite Alise, Chris Massa,  or Z for a hands on lesson.

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Did you know you can grow loofah sponges?

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P. Allen Smith has an amazing show on gardening on TV. Here is his safety video. What did you learn? What other videos shall we add to our safety lesson? Why did you choose it?

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Did you know that PHS has this tree? What does the fruit taste like? Read the blog from Green Thumb & share 3 facts that you learned. (Recall)

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I remember the first time I saw this exotic being, it was between October and May when they were ripe. The olive green, egg shaped organism had overlapping scales or dimples covering its skin that looked like it had finger print indentations on it. I even noticed some selections were kind of heart shaped with spike-like projections and ripen as late as mid to late June. The fruit weighed about 3 pounds. When I took my knife and sliced it open, the white interior was revealed. I took a spoon and scooped out the custard filling with numerous black seeds and put it into my mouth. It's no wonder that sometimes people call it Custard Apple but it's not really what the real name is. I swirled it throughout my mouth sifting out the seeds and discarding them into my hand. I took another scoop then another. As I devoured it and discovered how delicious the fruit really is, I was hooked. The taste was sweet, with a little hint of tartness, and delicate like candy but not over powering. The taste made me forget about the annoying seeds the fruit has but the reward was an epicurean delight. To me the mild flavor is a combination between banana, pineapple, custard, and very fragrant. This wonderful and tasty fruit sometimes found at the grocery store is outrageously expensive. How about if you can grow one of these unique fruits for yourself. Read along and I will provide you with some timely tips about this wonderful fruit they call the Cherimoya that you can grow in your own garden.

Botanically, the Cherimoya is called Annona cherimola and the common name is Annona or Cherimoya, I will use the latter in this text. The Cherimoya is native to the Andes in Central America and is a subtropical plant that can do well in many areas of Southern California, however they grow best in the coastal and foothill areas of the region, at 3 to 20 miles from the ocean. They prefer lots of sun and a very well drained soil.

Cherimoyas are not at their best when they experience excessive dry, inland heat and is not for the desert, however there is evidence that the Cherimoya is very adaptable to growing successfully in very hot and dry interior valleys. They prefer a summer temperature of 65-80F, and a winter temperature of 41-65F, however they can also survive temperatures as low as 25F and will take light to moderate frost but young trees are susceptible to such cold. In colder areas, plant next to a south facing wall to collect heat and encourage early bud break and fruit ripening during the winter.

Another technique to protect against frost is to wrap the trunk and branches with sponge foam. (In inland locations provide protection from extreme hot temperatures and dry winds.) In hotter areas and drought stressed trees they tend to defoliate but come back when the weather and water is restored. So they do not get sunburn, use tree trunk paint and
apply on the lower branches and trunk if defoliated from heat.

Cherimoyas are a fairly dense, fast-growing, semi-evergreen tree that goes briefly deciduous (loses its leaves) in California from February through April, but soon the leaves are replaced a month afterwords. During this period, it is best to water infrequently. Otherwise when the plant is putting out new growth it is best to water regularly and avoid getting the trunk wet. To reduce the incidence of fruit cracking it is wise to water consistently. They can reach a height of 30 feet or more, but is fairly easy to manage it to 12 feet by pruning. Don't be afraid to prune heavily as this encourages
more flower set hence more likely to get fruit. The best time to prune

Cherimoyas is in April. Be sure to use tree trunk paint on exposed branches after pruning especially in hot, dry locations. When fertilizing, do so on a regular basis with a balanced fertilizer in mid-winter then every three months thereafter. It should be noted that yellow leaves does not always mean it needs a fertilizer, it may mean the soil is too dry or the weather
is too cold.

Cherimoyas begin to start bearing fruit as early as 2 to 5 years old and increases as the trees reach 10 years old. The time to harvest the fruit is when the fruits are fully grown and just beginning to show a slight hint of yellowish green and perhaps a bronze cast.

When harvesting, never pull the fruit from the branch it is attached too, doing so will damage the fruit, instead clip it off the branch. Cherimoyas are harvested when they are hard and ripen over time. To be able to have successful fruit formation it is important to hand pollinate the flowers because the natural pollinators where they are native to are not present in California. Cherimoyas flower from May to October. When hand pollinating, start around mid-June in hot, dry locations or when the male flowers are open and not begun to show signs of drying or discoloration.

You will need a 1/8 inch wide moistened paint brush and a black plastic container with a lid. In the evening, between 4 and 7 pm, insert the paint brush into the male portion of the flower tapping off the pollen into the black plastic container. (The pollen will look like powder. ) Next go to a female flower within the same hour, dab the paint brush into the container to get some pollen. Close the lid on the container so you don't spill the pollen. Now insert the pollen into the female flower (Stigma). The female flower will be ready for pollen when it just begins to open at the tips. Then mark the flower you pollinated with yarn or break the flower petal so you know that you did that flower already. Repeat the same process with the next flower. You usually have a time frame between June and August to hand pollinate. Please be aware, not every time the male and female flowers are ready together. You need to check often. By hand pollinating you also have the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful aroma of the fragrant flowers. In coastal areas where it is more humid it is not as crucial to hand pollinate but still may be necessary.

Here are some delicious ways to enjoy the Cherimoya:
* Use to make ice cream or sorbet.
* Combine with other fruits for a tropical fruit salad.
* Mash and stir into your favorite muffin or pancake batter.
* Dice and combine with red onion and jalapeño for a sweet-spicy salsa.
* Blend into a morning smoothie.
* Purée and create your own fruity sauce or salad dressing.
* Blend with other fruits for a chilled dessert soup.

The incredible Cherimoya is very beneficial in many regards:
* A single, medium-sized Cherimoya fruit contains about 35% of the daily
recommended intake of Vitamin C.
* This fruit reduces bad cholesterol (LDL) and increases good cholesterol (HDL) levels in the blood.
* Cherimoyas contain Vitamin B6 which aides the proper functioning of our
metabolism and immune system.
* One medium Cherimoya provides a whopping 5 grams of dietary fiber.
* The Cherimoya's leaves, stems, flesh, juice, and peel is known to have antioxidant and anticancer properties by acting against cancer cells, without adversely affecting healthy cells.
* Regular consumption of Cherimoya can help to delay the signs of aging like fine lines, blemishes and wrinkles.
* This highly nutritious fruit contains hair-friendly nutrients like magnesium, zinc, and iron which promote hair growth.

Come on over to your favorite Green Thumb Nursery and select any of the wide variety of fruits we carry. All products are subject to availability so please call ahead.
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By Richard Flowers, ACCNP-Green Thumb Nursery-Ventura I remember the first time I saw this exotic being, it was between October and May when they were ripe. The olive green, egg shaped organism had overlapping scales or dimples covering its skin that looked like it had finger print indentations on it.

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Note to self: Do not forget to ask Will Tipton, GEO group, parents, Sanbuena Ventura garden Club, students who need community service?, etc.

Brainstorm & plan this

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Where shall we place them?
is there enough sun?
Are they in good enough condition? (Insert photos)

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Student Made Gardening Signs Need to be Posted

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Student Made Gardening Signs Need to be Posted

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(Insert pictures of the butterfly sign, the catching rain water sign & more).

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Did you know that PHS is a Certified Monarch Way Station?

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Did you know that PHS is a Certified Monarch Way Station?

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Lower Campus designed a shark shaped butterfly garden on Lower Campus. This approved project is in need of repair!! we used to have it filled with plants that attract butterflies. EIC & PHS loved it. Lagoon students routinely added rocks around the base of the shark. It used to look like a work of art. How can we revive it? What labor & products do we need? When do we plant? What timelines do we need to create?

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Economics & Gardening!

How do we sell our produce to the cafeteria?
What is the process?  How much $$ will we earn? What can that $$ be used for??

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I REALLY WANT STUDENTS to co-design a mural that would say thank you to Lowe's & Whole Foods for financing and building our dream garden. Whole Foods already gave us a placard to add to this. I imagine plants, veggies, fruit, & perhaps an inspirational saying. (Insert picture of placard here)

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We won the Grant!  For Educational Gardening Signs.

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We won the Grant!  For Educational Gardening Signs.

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We bought the designs and had the signs made!  We just need posts! These were completely inspired by the ESC garden.

The question is..... do we need school board approval, or approval from Rich Saint/Dave Marshall as to where we post them for safety & lack of intrusion for grounds or as Alise has suggested over the years no approval at all as they were approved already for VUSD/ESC??

What type of posts do we need? Is cement involved? Who does this?

These are located in the LC garden shed.

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Purchased designs come as digital file downloads. You can purchase signs as PDF files or Adobe Illustrator files. We do not sell the physical signs themselves, just a digital design.

With these digital files you will be able to print and laminate your own signs or get them printed at a sign shop. Adobe Illustrator files allow you more options for editing using Adobe software. PDF files are easily viewed on may free versions of software almost all sign publishers will accept PDF file types.
Suggested Online Sign Maker
We have ordered signs with the online retailer Printastic and we're highly satisfied with the results. They offer 18×24 inch signs on aluminum or composite aluminum. They have various options to chose from during checkout such as rounded corners, mounting holes, and sign thickness. Depending on how and where you mount your signs will help determine what type of options to order. Signs cost between $35 and $55 depending on options ordered and shipping is free when ordering over $55.

The professional high-pressure laminate signs on display in the Garden Classroom ( pollinator sign, worm sign) were manufactured by www.altoaluminum.com/folia. They are quite costly (~$800 each) for most school gardens, UV resistant, and carry a ten year warranty.

Please contact us at (831) 459-2001 or gardendirector@lifelab.org with any questions. $20.00 per design.

View our blog post about making your own garden signs and view garden sign ideas from school gardens around the nation.

Sign Designs

click image for larger version

click image for larger version

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Purchased designs come as digital file downloads. You can purchase signs as PDF files or Adobe Illustrator files. We do not sell the physical signs themselves, just a digital design. With these digital files you will be able to print and laminate your own signs or get them printed at a sign shop.

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What I learned from a Field Trip to the Pacific View Mall's Farmer Market!

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What I learned from a Field Trip to the Pacific View Mall's Farmer Market!

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(Every Wed., from 9-1)
I want to grow the Satsuma Tangerine! Most amazing flavored citrus!
We learned about the different  types of cauliflower. we learned about careers, tasted amazing samples from a variety of farmers.

Note to self: Insert student pictures here.

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SEL: Social Emotional Learning through Art: 

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SEL: Social Emotional Learning through Art: 

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Painting Rocks!
Art therapy is a form of expressive therapy that uses the creative process of making art to improve a person's (all ages and stages of life) physical, mental, and emotional well-being. It can help individuals of all ages express oneself, explore emotions and instill hope and empowerment

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DIY ROCK PAINTING for the First Time | Ideas and Tips, What I Learned

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What ideas do you have that would entice parents of PHS students to come be a part of our school? Would garden projects & garden art projects be enough? Could we make a community salad and provide (give) produce to families? Would we have an art table so that family members not interested in gardening would paint rocks to take home and give to our school? What could we do to bring your family to school?

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Let's create interview questions for ..... of the Geo Group! They have adopted our school & want us to succeed. What questions shall we ask? I want to know how your love for gardening created a business for you.  How were you able to create business relationships? How did you start your brand? What schooling did you need?

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We won the top notch Lowe's Grant! They only permit 5 of the top grants. If you win it, Lowe's will help build your garden! here is our epic news story! We were also in the Ventura Breeze!

We also won the Whole Foods grant.

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How can we prevent our crops from the intrusion of insects?

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How can we prevent our crops from the intrusion of insects?

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Are we overreacting to insects? Joel says that we need to do something NOW! Buy insects to eat other insects?
Jorge, AKA George our campus supervisor,, strongly recommends soap & water. What do you think we should do to help our plants?

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Organic pest control - Natural bug and insect repellents

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Greenhouse: Student inspired ideas to protect our garden from the cold!

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Greenhouse: Student inspired ideas to protect our garden from the cold!

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Joel & Alec said that they learned how to protect their garden boxes at middle school by building a greenhouse on top of the garden boxes with pipes and thick clear plastic.

How does this inspire you or what would you change?

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This is MY lower campus dream!!! As students & I decide on which tree to plant, we must seek optimum sun, obstruction from the grounds crew working, and consider safety for EIC & PHS. We can include lower campus as well as the land in front of the lower campus office (I believe). Please watch this video and share your dreams.

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This Crazy Tree Grows 40 Kinds of Fruit | National Geographic

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What 2 fruits or vegetables, seen here or not seen here, would you like to combine?  What hybrid veggies or fruits have you tried?

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Strange Hybrid Fruits That Actually Exist

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What inspired you in this video & why?

Which are you most likely to try @ home & at school & why?

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How to Replant Vegetables! | Gardening Hacks and Tips by Blossom

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A student, JG,  loved this design as it had inspirational words. What mural idea inspires you?

Think nature or butterflies. Choose something that pertains to our garden, Monarch Butterfly WayStation or has a super positive message.

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Approved by the School Board already. Documents will be uploaded soon.

Big Question: Should our boxes have a themed design to match our upcoming murals?

I have bought stencils in lieu of the art designs I submitted. Do I have to resubmit this endeavor?

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https://www.kearneyhub.com/news/local/new-downtown-mural-lets-people-be-butterflies/article_df707d98-b6a3-11e8-ad5d-f39e409b1d0d.html