School Garden

Sep 16, 2020

“Go Bags” Ease Transition Outside

Do you want to utilize outdoor space for teaching, but do not have a designated outdoor classroom? Consider creating “Go Bags.” Each student has their own bag, eliminating the need for teachers to disinfect items between groups of students. Each tote bag or reusable grocery bag would contain the following items, many of which can be brought… 

Sep 14, 2020

Video: Harvesting Sweet Potatoes

It’s time to don your eyepatch and your best pirate accent to dig for buried treasure in the garden! The sweet potatoes arrrrrgh ready (or almost ready) to harvest, matey. Doug has some tips and tricks for harvesting your sweet potatoes. Don’t miss the special appearances by some of our local elementary school students as they… 

Aug 25, 2020

Thrive Outside

There has never been a better time to consider teaching outside. With the need for social distancing and many schools utilizing a hybrid teaching model, outdoor spaces can offer peace of mind as well as numerous learning benefits. However, teaching outside can also present some challenges.Here are just a few tips: Most of students’ time… 

Jun 16, 2020

Video: Planting Sweet Potatoes

Sowing seeds or digging a hole to bury the rootball of a transplant are the most common means of starting a garden crop, but there are some plants, like sweet potatoes, where a cutting is essentially directly rooted in the ground. These cuttings are called slips and the time to plant sweet potatoes is late… 

May 19, 2020

Video: Bolting Kale

Kale is a cool season vegetable. The leaves are harvested for use in salads, smoothies, baked as chips or even added to soup. It’s packed with nutrients and considered a “superfood.” As the temperatures get warmer in late spring, harvesting comes to a halt when the kale bolts (lettuce does the same). Learn about this… 

May 18, 2020

Video: Pollination

The signs of spring include flowers blooming and birds chirping…and that yellow dust covering our cars. While it may be a nuisance to those who suffer from allergies, it serves an important role in plant reproduction. PHHI STEM educator, Doug Vernon, is in his element in his yard sharing a quick overview of pollen and… 

Apr 20, 2020

Video: Flower Dissection

Classroom lesson delivery is going virtual. In this first video in a new series dubbed STEM To-Go, Amy Bowman teaches flower parts through flower dissection. A lily or alstroemeria are ideal flowers for a simply dissection demonstration. We’ve created a YouTube Playlist on the Plants for Human Health Institute channel for all the “STEM To-Go”… 

Apr 17, 2020

SGSI 2020 Canceled

In light of the response to reducing the threat of COVID-19, the decision has been made to cancel the School Garden Summer Institute that was scheduled for June 24-25, 2020. Refunds will be issued to those who had registered. We are planning to target the same week in June next summer for SGSI 2021, if… 

Mar 6, 2020

Registration Opens for SGSI

Join the NC State Plants for Human Health Institute for the 3rd annual School Garden Summer Institute, a 2-day professional development workshop for teachers, administrators, volunteers or any other members of the “garden team.” REGISTER TODAY Event Date and Time: June 24-25, 8:00 am – 4:00 pm Early Bird Registration $40 (Until April 15th) General Registration…