Our Ultimate Schoolyard Garden grows here

Horticulturist Annie West explains how she and others are growing hundreds of plants for the Ultimate Schoolyard Garden that will be displayed at the Southern Spring Home & Garden Show. The Catawba River District and several partners are creating the display. Learn more.

Chefs in the Classroom: Sweet Potato Pie Smoothie

Green Teacher Network invited Megan Lambert, a culinary instructor at Johnson & Wales University, and Sean Cosby, a personal chef, to create cooking demonstrations to help classroom teachers with schoolyard gardens incorporate fresh produce in their lessons.
This video features Sean making Sweet Potato Pie Smoothie.

Chefs in the Classroom - Ranch Dressing and Cucumber Slices

Green Teacher Network invited Megan Lambert, a culinary instructor at Johnson & Wales University, and Sean Cosby, a personal chef, to create cooking demonstrations to help classroom teachers with schoolyard gardens incorporate fresh produce in their lessons.
This video features Sean making Ranch Dressing with Greek Yogurt – a tasty topping for garden produce such as cucumbers.

Chefs in the Classroom - Massaged Kale Salad

Green Teacher Network invited Megan Lambert, a culinary instructor at Johnson & Wales University, and Sean Cosby, a personal chef, to create cooking demonstrations to help classroom teachers with schoolyard gardens incorporate fresh produce in their lessons.
This video features Megan Lambert making Massaged Kale Salad and showing how even young students can lend hand - literally!

Massaged Greens Salad

Recipe by Megan Lambert, RD, JWU Culinary Instructor
This salad sounds a little scary, even for veggie lovers.  The dressing makes it really delicious, though, and kids love to help massage the greens!

Ingredients:

1-2 bunches fresh kale or mustard greens

1 lemon for juice and zest

1 clove garlic

3 Tbsp Parmesan cheese

3Tbsp olive oil

Method:

Thoroughly wash the greens in several changes of water.

Remove stems.  Cut the greens into thin ribbons and place into a large bowl.

Zest the lemon, and squeeze juice into a small jar.

Mash the garlic and add it to the jar.

Add the cheese and olive oil to the jar.  Place the lid on the jar, and shake to mix the dressing.

Pour the dressing over the greens in the bowl.

With very clean hands or wearing rubber gloves (over very clean hands), massage the dressing into the greens for a few minutes.  Really squeeze and mix the greens! 

Enjoy!

"I Tried It!" Kids and kale in Charlotte Schools

Erin Brighton, director of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Food Policy Council, recently wrote about her experience making this salad. READ ERIN'S BLOG and see the recipe.

From pallets to schoolhouse - Ultimate Schoolyard Garden

The Ultimate Schoolyard Garden will be housed within a structure made of nearly 80 recycled oak pallets. In this video, watch as carpentry students at Central Piedmont Community College assemble the display in a workshop at CPCC's Harris Campus. They later took it apart for shipping and reassembly in mid-February at The Park Expo and Conference Center. The 30-by-30 exhibit will be featured at the Southern Spring Home & Garden Show.

Learn more

• Southern Spring Home & Garden Show
• Ultimate Schoolyard Garden

Gardening 101 – Introduction (1 of 14 parts)

The Green Teacher Network workshop on Nov. 1, 2013, featured a talk entitled Gardening 101, by Henry Owen of Friendship Gardens. This is the first of 14 short video excerpts of Henry's presentation on how to launch a gardening program at your school. 

Learn more at these sites

• GREEN TEACHER NETWORK CHARLOTTE – GTN Charlotte provides learning and sharing for teachers and volunteers at nearly 100 schoolyard gardens in Mecklenburg and Gaston Counties.
• FRIENDSHIP GARDENS – Friendship Gardens works with many community and schoolyard gardens to use their produce in meals distributed by Friendship Trays to hundreds of people daily.

Gardening 101: Success! (2 of 14 parts)

The Green Teacher Network workshop on Nov. 1, 2013, featured a talk entitled Gardening 101, by Henry Owen of Friendship Gardens. This is the seond of 14 short video excerpts of Henry's presentation on how to launch a gardening program at your school. 

Learn more at these sites

• GREEN TEACHER NETWORK CHARLOTTE – GTN Charlotte provides learning and sharing for teachers and volunteers at nearly 100 schoolyard gardens in Mecklenburg and Gaston Counties.
• FRIENDSHIP GARDENS – Friendship Gardens works with many community and schoolyard gardens to use their produce in meals distributed by Friendship Trays to hundreds of people daily.

Gardening 101: Setting goals (3 of 14 parts)

The Green Teacher Network workshop on Nov. 1, 2013, featured a talk entitled Gardening 101, by Henry Owen of Friendship Gardens. This is the first of 14 short video excerpts of Henry's presentation on how to launch a gardening program at your school. 

Learn more at these sites

• GREEN TEACHER NETWORK CHARLOTTE – GTN Charlotte provides learning and sharing for teachers and volunteers at nearly 100 schoolyard gardens in Mecklenburg and Gaston Counties.
• FRIENDSHIP GARDENS – Friendship Gardens works with many community and schoolyard gardens to use their produce in meals distributed by Friendship Trays to hundreds of people daily.

Gardening 101: Building your team (4 of 14 parts)

The Green Teacher Network workshop on Nov. 1, 2013, featured a talk entitled Gardening 101, by Henry Owen of Friendship Gardens. This is the fourth of 14 short video excerpts of Henry's presentation on how to launch a gardening program at your school. 

Learn more at these sites

• GREEN TEACHER NETWORK CHARLOTTE – GTN Charlotte provides learning and sharing for teachers and volunteers at nearly 100 schoolyard gardens in Mecklenburg and Gaston Counties.
• FRIENDSHIP GARDENS – Friendship Gardens works with many community and schoolyard gardens to use their produce in meals distributed by Friendship Trays to hundreds of people daily.

Gardening 101: Getting buy-in (5 of 14 parts)

The Green Teacher Network workshop on Nov. 1, 2013, featured a talk entitled Gardening 101, by Henry Owen of Friendship Gardens. This is the fifth of 14 short video excerpts of Henry's presentation on how to launch a gardening program at your school. 

Learn more at these sites

• GREEN TEACHER NETWORK CHARLOTTE – GTN Charlotte provides learning and sharing for teachers and volunteers at nearly 100 schoolyard gardens in Mecklenburg and Gaston Counties.
• FRIENDSHIP GARDENS – Friendship Gardens works with many community and schoolyard gardens to use their produce in meals distributed by Friendship Trays to hundreds of people daily.

Gardening 101: Harvest! (6 of 14 parts)

The Green Teacher Network workshop on Nov. 1, 2013, featured a talk entitled Gardening 101, by Henry Owen of Friendship Gardens. This is the sixth of 14 short video excerpts of Henry's presentation on how to launch a gardening program at your school. 

Learn more at these sites

• GREEN TEACHER NETWORK CHARLOTTE – GTN Charlotte provides learning and sharing for teachers and volunteers at nearly 100 schoolyard gardens in Mecklenburg and Gaston Counties.
• FRIENDSHIP GARDENS – Friendship Gardens works with many community and schoolyard gardens to use their produce in meals distributed by Friendship Trays to hundreds of people daily.

Gardening 101: Picking the location (7 of 14 parts)

The Green Teacher Network workshop on Nov. 1, 2013, featured a talk entitled Gardening 101, by Henry Owen of Friendship Gardens. This is the seventh of 14 short video excerpts of Henry's presentation on how to launch a gardening program at your school. 

Learn more at these sites

• GREEN TEACHER NETWORK CHARLOTTE – GTN Charlotte provides learning and sharing for teachers and volunteers at nearly 100 schoolyard gardens in Mecklenburg and Gaston Counties.
• FRIENDSHIP GARDENS – Friendship Gardens works with many community and schoolyard gardens to use their produce in meals distributed by Friendship Trays to hundreds of people daily.

Gardening 101: Which type of bed? (8 of 14 parts)

The Green Teacher Network workshop on Nov. 1, 2013, featured a talk entitled Gardening 101, by Henry Owen of Friendship Gardens. This is the eighth of 14 short video excerpts of Henry's presentation on how to launch a gardening program at your school. 

Learn more at these sites

• GREEN TEACHER NETWORK CHARLOTTE – GTN Charlotte provides learning and sharing for teachers and volunteers at nearly 100 schoolyard gardens in Mecklenburg and Gaston Counties.
• FRIENDSHIP GARDENS – Friendship Gardens works with many community and schoolyard gardens to use their produce in meals distributed by Friendship Trays to hundreds of people daily.

Gardening 101: Healthy soil (9 of 14 parts)

The Green Teacher Network workshop on Nov. 1, 2013, featured a talk entitled Gardening 101, by Henry Owen of Friendship Gardens. This is the ninth of 14 short video excerpts of Henry's presentation on how to launch a gardening program at your school. 

Learn more at these sites

• GREEN TEACHER NETWORK CHARLOTTE – GTN Charlotte provides learning and sharing for teachers and volunteers at nearly 100 schoolyard gardens in Mecklenburg and Gaston Counties.
• FRIENDSHIP GARDENS – Friendship Gardens works with many community and schoolyard gardens to use their produce in meals distributed by Friendship Trays to hundreds of people daily.

Gardening 101: Is it organic? (10 of 14 parts)

The Green Teacher Network workshop on Nov. 1, 2013, featured a talk entitled Gardening 101, by Henry Owen of Friendship Gardens. This is the 10th of 14 short video excerpts of Henry's presentation on how to launch a gardening program at your school. 

Learn more at these sites

• GREEN TEACHER NETWORK CHARLOTTE – GTN Charlotte provides learning and sharing for teachers and volunteers at nearly 100 schoolyard gardens in Mecklenburg and Gaston Counties.
• FRIENDSHIP GARDENS – Friendship Gardens works with many community and schoolyard gardens to use their produce in meals distributed by Friendship Trays to hundreds of people daily.

Gardening 101: When to plant (11 of 14 parts)

The Green Teacher Network workshop on Nov. 1, 2013, featured a talk entitled Gardening 101, by Henry Owen of Friendship Gardens. This is the 11th of 14 short video excerpts of Henry's presentation on how to launch a gardening program at your school. 

Learn more at these sites

• GREEN TEACHER NETWORK CHARLOTTE – GTN Charlotte provides learning and sharing for teachers and volunteers at nearly 100 schoolyard gardens in Mecklenburg and Gaston Counties.
• FRIENDSHIP GARDENS – Friendship Gardens works with many community and schoolyard gardens to use their produce in meals distributed by Friendship Trays to hundreds of people daily.

Gardening 101: Watering (12 of 14 parts)

The Green Teacher Network workshop on Nov. 1, 2013, featured a talk entitled Gardening 101, by Henry Owen of Friendship Gardens. This is the 12th of 14 short video excerpts of Henry's presentation on how to launch a gardening program at your school. 

Learn more at these sites

• GREEN TEACHER NETWORK CHARLOTTE – GTN Charlotte provides learning and sharing for teachers and volunteers at nearly 100 schoolyard gardens in Mecklenburg and Gaston Counties.
• FRIENDSHIP GARDENS – Friendship Gardens works with many community and schoolyard gardens to use their produce in meals distributed by Friendship Trays to hundreds of people daily.

Gardening 101: Making compost (13 of 14 parts)

The Green Teacher Network workshop on Nov. 1, 2013, featured a talk entitled Gardening 101, by Henry Owen of Friendship Gardens. This is the 13th of 14 short video excerpts of Henry's presentation on how to launch a gardening program at your school. 

Learn more at these sites

• GREEN TEACHER NETWORK CHARLOTTE – GTN Charlotte provides learning and sharing for teachers and volunteers at nearly 100 schoolyard gardens in Mecklenburg and Gaston Counties.
• FRIENDSHIP GARDENS – Friendship Gardens works with many community and schoolyard gardens to use their produce in meals distributed by Friendship Trays to hundreds of people daily.

Gardening 101: Priceless final advice (14 of 14 parts)

The Green Teacher Network workshop on Nov. 1, 2013, featured a talk entitled Gardening 101, by Henry Owen of Friendship Gardens. This is the 14th of 14 short video excerpts of Henry's presentation on how to launch a gardening program at your school. 

Learn more at these sites

• GREEN TEACHER NETWORK CHARLOTTE – GTN Charlotte provides learning and sharing for teachers and volunteers at nearly 100 schoolyard gardens in Mecklenburg and Gaston Counties.
• FRIENDSHIP GARDENS – Friendship Gardens works with many community and schoolyard gardens to use their produce in meals distributed by Friendship Trays to hundreds of people daily.

2013 STEM event provides picture-perfect day of learning

The third annual STEM Outdoor Learning Event took place on Sept. 23, 2013, at the Duke Energy Explorium on Lake Norman. About 550 fifth-graders from schools serving the Catawba River District spent the morning getting hands-on lessons in topics ranging from weather to water cleansing from local experts. Both students and volunteers say this is a great way to learn. Watch and see for yourself!

Learn more

Read our blog report on the event: Third STEM Outdoor Learning Event was picture-perfect fun