Growing Together: Open Forum

Hi!

We're in the process of planning a medicinal plant garden with our 5th Graders and I was wondering if anyone has any recommendations. Most of the garden planners seem to be for veg gardens or you need to have a subscription. I want the kids to be able to measure the space and then work out how many plants we need and how best to plant them. 

Thank you!

Hi Karolin, what a great project! The process for designing an herb garden is very similar in most respects to veg garden planning - but it's easier to accomplish as most herbs don't need a rich, compost-heavy soil. Here are a few questions for you to have the students get started (every question a potential hands-on, experiential lesson), and feel free to reach out to me if I answer any questions.   1) where is the garden located - part of the country and planting zone. Students will need this to determine which medicinal plants can thrive where you are (how cold does it get in winter and how hot in summer, and how much rain falls) 2) what's the solar access - how many hours a day of sun. Students will need this to help determine which plants will do best with whatever amount of sunlight  3) Soil assessment - have the students test the existing soil (extension office can assist) for it's composition (sandy, clay, other - you'll find the 'put soil in a jar, fill with water, shake, and let settle - then compare with images that show what's what), and amend only if necessary; and for it's alkalinity - this info is another filter for which plants will do best. Broadfork it to loosen the soil without damaging the soil structure  3) determine how baby plants will be watered the first season - while there are many plants used for medicine that require no supplemental irrigation except in drought once they are established, the first year they need deep watering to get their roots established. Drip on a timer is best especially during summer when noone's around. 4) Measure the area  5)Look up medicinal plants, have students learn about the basics (Rosemary Gladstar's "Medicinal Herbs, a Beginner's Guide" is a great place to start.Have students research their favorites for the garden conditions above, and for size.  Do a map project where they draw out each plant's full size, putting taller plants in the back, shorter in front. 6) BUY herb starts from a local grower. As many/most medicinal plants are shrubby perennials, and as many of them require stratification or vernalization (periods of months in the fridge) for germination, it's just too slow for a single season of learning imho to seed them. 7) make plant signs   8)As the perennials won't give you much of a harvest the first year, be sure to include annuals that will - like calendula.  Here are some of my favorites for a school garden (depending on where you are, etc):  Thyme, Oregano, perennial onions/chives/other alliums, lavender, lemon balm, calendula, chamomile, hyssop, motherwort (it can be invasive), mint (can be invasive - usually is), echinacea, tulsi (holy basil), spilanthes (toothache plant), nettles if you have the space way in the back.  There's so many more!

You're amazing! Thanks so much for all the input. We're located in Corte Madera, CA, zone 10a. We have full sun, maybe a couple of hours of shade in the colder months as there is a building close by but it's mainly sunny. We will have irrigation set up in that part of the garden. Great thinking on the soil test and we definitely need to work out spread of the plants etc. A lot of the types can either be ground covers or taller bushes. 

Our current list includes only California natives and mainly plants that were used by the indigenous tribes - the Coast Miwoks so we're combining a couple of different lessons here. 

Artemisia californica, douglasiuna

Yarrow

Ceanothus

Huckleberry

Coyote brush - Baccharis pilularis

Buckwheat - naked stemmed Eriogonum nudum

Sticky monkey

Elderberry

Manzanita

Douglas Iris

Blue eyed grass - Sisyrinchium bellum

Bay Laurel - Umbellularia californica