The third graders also wanted to eat some of these ripe tomatoes! Got plenty more where these came from!

We got some tasty Italian parsley in full bloom soon to be surrounded by freshly planted spinach today.

Look how this one is blooming! The third graders wanted to taste this one today!

Some new beans coming in at Sanderlin today! Looking bright and green as ever on this beautiful blue sky day.

Cutting Off for Future Gains

 Here is Suzanne getting to work on that tomato plant.

Look at these perfectly ripe bananas. We couldn't leave them hanging any longer. These must be eaten ASAP.

Here is Pabs holding a bucket of collards, and looking mighty fine.

We suckered over 95% of this tomato plant today. It was a necessary deed for our tomatoes to grow healthy and strong.

"She comes in colors ev'rywhere;
She combs her hair
She's like a rainbow"

-Rolling Stones, 1967

Plant Pulling Party

That's a big bunch of little ripe bananas.

Here is Alex pulling out that pesky sedge.

This tomato plant is quite the tangle.

Here I am working on that mess.

This is me again, about to sucker a branch off of the tomato plant.

Preparing for Further Growth

Shannon and I undressed these eggplant plants on Tuesday, but refrained from giving them haircuts.

This is all the eggplant collected from the stripping. Quite the variety.

Today we planted some endives, swiss chard, joi-choi, cabbage, and broccoli.

Though most of the original pineapples have perished, those that have remained are flourishing.

I found this ripe little banana in a trash bag in the shed today. It's like what Marco of the Shuar people told me after I accidentally dropped a handful of yuca on the ground. "Be careful. That's food, my friend."

Prepping the Gardens!

Hello Everyone!

This week is all about prepping the gardens for the kids this semester. Today at Sanderlin Elementary School, we worked on taking out the old pole beans, the dead sunflowers, taming those tomatoes, and general maintenance so that the garden will be ready to receive both kids and seeds by next week!

                                                       (Before my shift began)

(1 Hour into my shift)

Shannon and Hank arrived at the end of my shift and work with a local organic farmer on the eggplants (below)

Today was my first time in the garden since being back at school, and working outside and with the plants made me even that much more excited about working with kids next week. The most valuable thing that we could ever put in the garden are the kids and I am so excited for these beds to be ready for their eager and smiling faces.

Andréa 

So many tomatoes!

Yesterday Sanderlin Garden awoke from hibernation. We had a few university volunteers, along with Pab, clone our numerous tomatoes.

Tomatoes have "suckers" in between their natural Y shape. Each sucker contains rooting hormones that can be easily transplanted and transformed into a healthy, sturdy starter.

We collected over 20 clones today. The tomatoes now have room to breath and the clones are ready for a new home!