Curricular roots: The Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project, with funding from the N.C. Health and Wellness Trust Fund, is doling out seeds and supplies to area schools for their garden projects. Through its Growing Minds project, ASAP has helped launch garden projects at Asheville High School, Evergreen Charter School, Hall Fletcher Academy and elementary schools including Emma School, Isaac Dickson, Jones, Hazelwood (Haywood County) and Bee Log (Yancey County). ASAP’s work includes providing teacher workshops and curriculum resources, connecting resources between schools, providing support for special projects and assisting in volunteer recruitment. To learn more, contact Emily Jackson at Emily@growing-minds.org.
Worms turn: This will probably come as a big “Doh?” to experienced organic gardeners, but a study at Ohio State University has proven that seedlings grown in a starter mix containing 10 to 20 percent vermicompost produce bigger, healthier plants. (Amazing! Here we sat thinking that’s what wormpoop was invented for in the first place.) Some local garden suppliers carry bagged worm dirt, or you can generate your own stash by dumping a handful of wigglers in a 40-gallon storage container half filled with dirt and feeding them your veggie scraps and corn meal. The worms do the rest.
Free-trade zone: If you start seeds at home, you almost inevitably end up with too many of this and that and too few of those and the other. A fun way to expand your variety is to share your wealth by organizing a seedling swap. The hardest part is usually the step where you seek others who have seedlings to share. Xpress wants to help. If you schedule or want to participate in a swap, let us know when and where; we’ll post it here AND e-mail the time and place to everyone else who responds. Send your request to the e-ddress below, and include PLANT SWAP in the subject line.
Send your garden tips and news to cbothwell@mountainx.com.
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