The Orca K-8 School Garden Blog!

We got all our seed packets together that we had lyin’ around and got to planting. The garden is kind of like a giant living canvass and these students are out there painting it with zinnias, safflowers, flax, lettuces, greens, and more. We had them cycle through and through the greenhouse to get more and more seeds each time. When they come back to school for first grade- it’ll be all color and joy around here. They are garden artists for sure.

so many seeds to choose from

We have got an unbelievable amount of greens this year. We grew all these from seed and there is already much to munch & harvest. So kindergarten got to try all the different green flavors. Today they could eat as much as they want! Just think- this might be the beginning of a lifelong enjoyment of greens- that’s a beautiful thing.

Use what you got to make art! Especially when it’s mint leaves, sage, lavender, calendula flowers, and all the other goodies in the Orca garden. The imagination of these lil’ guys never ceases to amaze me. We made plant collages with some glue and boy did we have fun. Now we finally have the greenhouse back after its jungle status has been reduced to a small forest of OG plants. More art please!

UW volunteer Sophie wants you to grow these for folks.

We want to hook you up with some free plants if you will grow them for those in need. We have tons of tomatoes, squashes, greens, broccoli- so many organic starters. Whether you are a school, food bank, or community garden- we want to set you up. Feel free to let anyone know!

Email us at orcagarden@gmail.com and let us know about any organization that would like these plants.

Here, have a tomato!

Yes, students grew all the lovely tomatoes we grew. From seed, to plant, to transplant, and eventually to your dinner table- they did it all! So it’s only fitting that they become part of the population that gets our plants for free. Cherry tomatoes for everybody! This also gives them a chance to take the “garden” home with them and share it with their family. So today we drew on some plant cups, transplanted their cherry tomatoes, and drank some mint tea.

Let the madness begin! 10am

Thanks for everyone’s support of our annual Orca garden sale! It was a beautiful day full of organic veggie starts, fun, crafts, baked goods, and so much more. This event is about putting good food on people’s tables and we are honored to help people and their family eat fresh, local, and organic. This event is a perfect example of social enterprise- instead of wondering when donations are gonna roll in (they won’t!), we get to planting and giving people a product they can use (while we in turn get their hard earned cashola!). What is left over is donated to many schools, community gardens, foodbanks, and ANYONE who will grow food for those in need. Call/email us and get hooked up!

Much thanks to all the amazing volunteers who made this happen- we love you! It takes a village right?

Plus we can add that we broke our previous record for sales- them plants was looking good! And so were all you amazing people as you walked away with them.

It’s a family affair

Parents magazine just wrote a little profile on the Orca Garden w/ a recipe for chard/leek soup also. Plus we just hit 70,000 views on the blog. Frrrrrrrrrresh!