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  • 1.  Summer spreadsheet and to-do's list

    Posted 03-19-2025 02:06:00 PM

    Thanks in advance for your help - and for all these threads I didn't even know I needed answers for!

    In preparation of summer and school being out, I wonder what you utilize for keeping track of to-do's and tasks, as well as watering and weeding? Any great resource that's an easy click away or are you creating your own? This will be our garden's first summer and as School Garden Coordinator I am erring on the side of planting and caring for fewer things but doing it in a quality way, rather than a full garden that we don't have enough care for.



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    Anna Barsotti
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  • 2.  RE: Summer spreadsheet and to-do's list

    Posted 03-19-2025 03:52:00 PM
    Hi Anna,

    This is how I managed our school garden in the summer.
    1) sign up two families per week to come and visit the garden starting in mid April.
    2) at end of school year created and shared a short video, walking around the garden, showing things that could be worked on
    3) emailed the video to families that signed up to care for the garden and reminded them of key elements, like how to open the shed.
    4) once or twice during the summer created a new video and shared with upcoming families

    Find an example video and more ideas, plus links to other Summer School Garden Guides that have examples of forms and lists.

    Bonus ideas - plant lot's of flowers with the goal that families will all get a bouquet, remind families of when there will be ample fruit falling from trees so they can prepare/sign up for those times, if you feel families will show up - plant things that need consistent harvesting like cherry tomatoes, snap beans, cucumbers to entice them to come.


    -- JOHN
    John Fisher - Director of Programs & Partnerships - 831.471.7831  
    Life Lab cultivates children's love of learning, nourishing food, and nature through garden-based education. 
    A 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with locations in Santa Cruz, CA





  • 3.  RE: Summer spreadsheet and to-do's list

    Posted 03-20-2025 11:28:00 AM

    This is SO helpful John!  And I have long watched the amazing things you do and keep trying to rally some colleagues to come down to your Life Lab summer week...maybe next year.



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    Anna Barsotti
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    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Summer spreadsheet and to-do's list

    Posted 03-20-2025 11:46:00 AM

    Hi Anna,

    This is my first year working with my school garden. In the past the garden committee attempted to grow summer vegetables but quickly abandoned this as it was just too much work to water, weed, and stay on top of harvesting. They ended up just leaving the garden fallow over the summer and planting when the students came back in the fall. This works okay for us because we are in a mild climate and can grow things all year in our location, but it does leave gaps where there's not much going on in the garden. This year we are planning on planting a few vegetables that don't require as much maintenance over the summer, namely popcorn and pumpkins. Students will seed the popcorn and pumpkins in the spring and the garden committee will check on the plants occasionally (we'll water with an automated system) and the crops will hopefully be ready to harvest when students return to school in the fall. To reduce our workload I'm planning on using straw mulch to reduce watering and suppress weeds over the summer.

    Emily



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    Emily Grau
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  • 5.  RE: Summer spreadsheet and to-do's list

    Posted 03-20-2025 11:16:00 PM

    If you want low maintenance over the summer and to improve the soil, you can plant a summer cover crop and then till it into the soil when you're ready to start your fall crop. It helps keep pests out of the soil and weeds. I'm planning to do that this year to make the soil healthier.

    In previous years I have planted a late tomato crop (zone 7b) and pumpkins in July so that they're ready for the students when they start the year and they can care for and harvest them. we keep herbs going year round as well in our zone.


    You can get great cover crops here, this is the summer mix I'm getting (again zone 7b): https://www.groworganic.com/products/summer-soil-builder-mix-raw-lb



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    Hillary Neaf
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