Growing Together: Open Forum

The change of seasons is a momentous time marked by a number of natural phenomena and phenological events that can serve as engaging outdoor learning tools that spark curiosity, and getting to observing these natural phenomena starts with habitat! Do you have habitat in your yard or schoolyard where you and your students can witness these changes together? Need a literature connection to spark a conversation about the need for habitat?

Check out, download, and share the attached document that includes info on creating habitat with students through winter sowing, as well as a fantastic picture book that starts a conversation about the importance of habitat for wildlife. You and your students can get a jump start on creating habitat this winter, and be attracting wildlife (and more learning opportunities!) to your space before the beginning of the next school year!

Let's share! Have you winter sowed with students? Have any tips? How do you use habitat or natural phenomena to engage students in learning?

Thank you so much for sharing these wonderful resources!  I am adding this book to my holiday wish list!

The change of seasons is a momentous time marked by a number of natural phenomena and phenological events that can serve as engaging outdoor learning tools that spark curiosity, and getting to observing these natural phenomena starts with habitat! Do you have habitat in your yard or schoolyard where you and your students can witness these changes together? Need a literature connection to spark a conversation about the need for habitat?

Check out, download, and share the attached document that includes info on creating habitat with students through winter sowing, as well as a fantastic picture book that starts a conversation about the importance of habitat for wildlife. You and your students can get a jump start on creating habitat this winter, and be attracting wildlife (and more learning opportunities!) to your space before the beginning of the next school year!

Let's share! Have you winter sowed with students? Have any tips? How do you use habitat or natural phenomena to engage students in learning?

Is there also a book? I only saw a 2 page pdf file.

Thank you so much for sharing these wonderful resources!  I am adding this book to my holiday wish list!

The change of seasons is a momentous time marked by a number of natural phenomena and phenological events that can serve as engaging outdoor learning tools that spark curiosity, and getting to observing these natural phenomena starts with habitat! Do you have habitat in your yard or schoolyard where you and your students can witness these changes together? Need a literature connection to spark a conversation about the need for habitat?

Check out, download, and share the attached document that includes info on creating habitat with students through winter sowing, as well as a fantastic picture book that starts a conversation about the importance of habitat for wildlife. You and your students can get a jump start on creating habitat this winter, and be attracting wildlife (and more learning opportunities!) to your space before the beginning of the next school year!

Let's share! Have you winter sowed with students? Have any tips? How do you use habitat or natural phenomena to engage students in learning?

The change of seasons is a momentous time marked by a number of natural phenomena and phenological events that can serve as engaging outdoor learning tools that spark curiosity, and getting to observing these natural phenomena starts with habitat! Do you have habitat in your yard or schoolyard where you and your students can witness these changes together? Need a literature connection to spark a conversation about the need for habitat?

Check out, download, and share the attached document that includes info on creating habitat with students through winter sowing, as well as a fantastic picture book that starts a conversation about the importance of habitat for wildlife. You and your students can get a jump start on creating habitat this winter, and be attracting wildlife (and more learning opportunities!) to your space before the beginning of the next school year!

Let's share! Have you winter sowed with students? Have any tips? How do you use habitat or natural phenomena to engage students in learning?

I love this. Thank you for sharing. I want to do the milk jug sowing with my garden club.  I have also been saving juice bottles that can also be easily cut and used.  

The change of seasons is a momentous time marked by a number of natural phenomena and phenological events that can serve as engaging outdoor learning tools that spark curiosity, and getting to observing these natural phenomena starts with habitat! Do you have habitat in your yard or schoolyard where you and your students can witness these changes together? Need a literature connection to spark a conversation about the need for habitat?

Check out, download, and share the attached document that includes info on creating habitat with students through winter sowing, as well as a fantastic picture book that starts a conversation about the importance of habitat for wildlife. You and your students can get a jump start on creating habitat this winter, and be attracting wildlife (and more learning opportunities!) to your space before the beginning of the next school year!

Let's share! Have you winter sowed with students? Have any tips? How do you use habitat or natural phenomena to engage students in learning?

I love this. Thank you for sharing. I want to do the milk jug sowing with my garden club.  I have also been saving juice bottles that can also be easily cut and used.  

The change of seasons is a momentous time marked by a number of natural phenomena and phenological events that can serve as engaging outdoor learning tools that spark curiosity, and getting to observing these natural phenomena starts with habitat! Do you have habitat in your yard or schoolyard where you and your students can witness these changes together? Need a literature connection to spark a conversation about the need for habitat?

Check out, download, and share the attached document that includes info on creating habitat with students through winter sowing, as well as a fantastic picture book that starts a conversation about the importance of habitat for wildlife. You and your students can get a jump start on creating habitat this winter, and be attracting wildlife (and more learning opportunities!) to your space before the beginning of the next school year!

Let's share! Have you winter sowed with students? Have any tips? How do you use habitat or natural phenomena to engage students in learning?

The change of seasons is a momentous time marked by a number of natural phenomena and phenological events that can serve as engaging outdoor learning tools that spark curiosity, and getting to observing these natural phenomena starts with habitat! Do you have habitat in your yard or schoolyard where you and your students can witness these changes together? Need a literature connection to spark a conversation about the need for habitat?

Check out, download, and share the attached document that includes info on creating habitat with students through winter sowing. And consider getting a copy of the fantastic picture book I recommend in the pdf -- a beautifully illustrated book that starts a conversation about the importance of habitat for wildlife. You and your students can get a jump start on creating habitat this winter, and you can be attracting wildlife (and more learning opportunities!) to your space before the beginning of the next school year!

Let's share! Have you winter sowed with students? Have any tips? How do you use habitat or natural phenomena to engage students in learning?

------------------------------
Amber Keller
Massachusetts Master Gardener
Life Lab-Certified School Garden Educator
Natick, MA
------------------------------

Thank you for the wonderful handout and especially the book tip! Here's another story about Grandma Lisa replanting her yard with natives and the benefits that the plants bring. My gardening classes really enjoyed it.

Your handout is really attractive. What did you use to put that together? Canva or something similar?

Thanks again for the info!

The change of seasons is a momentous time marked by a number of natural phenomena and phenological events that can serve as engaging outdoor learning tools that spark curiosity, and getting to observing these natural phenomena starts with habitat! Do you have habitat in your yard or schoolyard where you and your students can witness these changes together? Need a literature connection to spark a conversation about the need for habitat?

Check out, download, and share the attached document that includes info on creating habitat with students through winter sowing. And consider getting a copy of the fantastic picture book I recommend in the pdf -- a beautifully illustrated book that starts a conversation about the importance of habitat for wildlife. You and your students can get a jump start on creating habitat this winter, and you can be attracting wildlife (and more learning opportunities!) to your space before the beginning of the next school year!

Let's share! Have you winter sowed with students? Have any tips? How do you use habitat or natural phenomena to engage students in learning?

------------------------------
Amber Keller
Massachusetts Master Gardener
Life Lab-Certified School Garden Educator
Natick, MA
------------------------------

The change of seasons is a momentous time marked by a number of natural phenomena and phenological events that can serve as engaging outdoor learning tools that spark curiosity, and getting to observing these natural phenomena starts with habitat! Do you have habitat in your yard or schoolyard where you and your students can witness these changes together? Need a literature connection to spark a conversation about the need for habitat?

Check out, download, and share the attached document that includes info on creating habitat with students through winter sowing. And consider getting a copy of the fantastic picture book I recommend in the pdf -- a beautifully illustrated book that starts a conversation about the importance of habitat for wildlife. You and your students can get a jump start on creating habitat this winter, and you can be attracting wildlife (and more learning opportunities!) to your space before the beginning of the next school year!

Let's share! Have you winter sowed with students? Have any tips? How do you use habitat or natural phenomena to engage students in learning?

------------------------------
Amber Keller
Massachusetts Master Gardener
Life Lab-Certified School Garden Educator
Natick, MA
------------------------------

Hello Amber,

I am a K-8 Garden Coordinator in NJ and also a Master Gardener.

I am a BIG fan of wintersowing and have personally winter sown for many years.  I have also winter sown with first graders and our garden clubs in the elementary(3,4) and middle school (5-8).

We asked the local Starbucks save milk jugs for us and then I prepped them for planting.  Starbucks was perplexed at first, but then very happy to recycle the jugs once I explained our goal.  

One tip I have is to pre-count the seeds for each student to plant in their jugs.  For example, for big seeds, like pumpkin/cucumber/watermelon/squash/and peas I put 5-10 in an envelope, keeping in mind the size of the spouting plant.  With smaller seeds, I divided each seed packet into 4-6 equal amounts for each student.  Every student then receives an envelope with their seeds to plant.  This seems time consuming, but trust me, it is very well worth it!  The empty seed envelopes are saved and reused next year.

We used sharpie markers on tongue depressors with the students initials and plant name.  All was still legible when planting time came!

Our vegetable garden has 32 raised beds and we were able to fill 6 raised beds (4' x 12') with produce and had perennials and herbs to plant around the rest of the garden.  The students were very excited and proud to watch their seedlings grow, flower and fruit.

 With a minimal budget, winter sowing is the best way to get hardened seedlings!

Another tip.  Call around to your local nurseries now, in December, to see if they have any seed packets left from the last season.  We have received amazing seed donations this way.

Thank you for the wonderful book suggestions in your pdf.

The change of seasons is a momentous time marked by a number of natural phenomena and phenological events that can serve as engaging outdoor learning tools that spark curiosity, and getting to observing these natural phenomena starts with habitat! Do you have habitat in your yard or schoolyard where you and your students can witness these changes together? Need a literature connection to spark a conversation about the need for habitat?

Check out, download, and share the attached document that includes info on creating habitat with students through winter sowing. And consider getting a copy of the fantastic picture book I recommend in the pdf -- a beautifully illustrated book that starts a conversation about the importance of habitat for wildlife. You and your students can get a jump start on creating habitat this winter, and you can be attracting wildlife (and more learning opportunities!) to your space before the beginning of the next school year!

Let's share! Have you winter sowed with students? Have any tips? How do you use habitat or natural phenomena to engage students in learning?

------------------------------
Amber Keller
Massachusetts Master Gardener
Life Lab-Certified School Garden Educator
Natick, MA
------------------------------

great idea to contact Starbucks!

Hello Amber,

I am a K-8 Garden Coordinator in NJ and also a Master Gardener.

I am a BIG fan of wintersowing and have personally winter sown for many years.  I have also winter sown with first graders and our garden clubs in the elementary(3,4) and middle school (5-8).

We asked the local Starbucks save milk jugs for us and then I prepped them for planting.  Starbucks was perplexed at first, but then very happy to recycle the jugs once I explained our goal.  

One tip I have is to pre-count the seeds for each student to plant in their jugs.  For example, for big seeds, like pumpkin/cucumber/watermelon/squash/and peas I put 5-10 in an envelope, keeping in mind the size of the spouting plant.  With smaller seeds, I divided each seed packet into 4-6 equal amounts for each student.  Every student then receives an envelope with their seeds to plant.  This seems time consuming, but trust me, it is very well worth it!  The empty seed envelopes are saved and reused next year.

We used sharpie markers on tongue depressors with the students initials and plant name.  All was still legible when planting time came!

Our vegetable garden has 32 raised beds and we were able to fill 6 raised beds (4' x 12') with produce and had perennials and herbs to plant around the rest of the garden.  The students were very excited and proud to watch their seedlings grow, flower and fruit.

 With a minimal budget, winter sowing is the best way to get hardened seedlings!

Another tip.  Call around to your local nurseries now, in December, to see if they have any seed packets left from the last season.  We have received amazing seed donations this way.

Thank you for the wonderful book suggestions in your pdf.

The change of seasons is a momentous time marked by a number of natural phenomena and phenological events that can serve as engaging outdoor learning tools that spark curiosity, and getting to observing these natural phenomena starts with habitat! Do you have habitat in your yard or schoolyard where you and your students can witness these changes together? Need a literature connection to spark a conversation about the need for habitat?

Check out, download, and share the attached document that includes info on creating habitat with students through winter sowing. And consider getting a copy of the fantastic picture book I recommend in the pdf -- a beautifully illustrated book that starts a conversation about the importance of habitat for wildlife. You and your students can get a jump start on creating habitat this winter, and you can be attracting wildlife (and more learning opportunities!) to your space before the beginning of the next school year!

Let's share! Have you winter sowed with students? Have any tips? How do you use habitat or natural phenomena to engage students in learning?

------------------------------
Amber Keller
Massachusetts Master Gardener
Life Lab-Certified School Garden Educator
Natick, MA
------------------------------

Hello Amber,

I am a K-8 Garden Coordinator in NJ and also a Master Gardener.

I am a BIG fan of wintersowing and have personally winter sown for many years.  I have also winter sown with first graders and our garden clubs in the elementary(3,4) and middle school (5-8).

We asked the local Starbucks save milk jugs for us and then I prepped them for planting.  Starbucks was perplexed at first, but then very happy to recycle the jugs once I explained our goal.  

One tip I have is to pre-count the seeds for each student to plant in their jugs.  For example, for big seeds, like pumpkin/cucumber/watermelon/squash/and peas I put 5-10 in an envelope, keeping in mind the size of the spouting plant.  With smaller seeds, I divided each seed packet into 4-6 equal amounts for each student.  Every student then receives an envelope with their seeds to plant.  This seems time consuming, but trust me, it is very well worth it!  The empty seed envelopes are saved and reused next year.

We used sharpie markers on tongue depressors with the students initials and plant name.  All was still legible when planting time came!

Our vegetable garden has 32 raised beds and we were able to fill 6 raised beds (4' x 12') with produce and had perennials and herbs to plant around the rest of the garden.  The students were very excited and proud to watch their seedlings grow, flower and fruit.

 With a minimal budget, winter sowing is the best way to get hardened seedlings!

Another tip.  Call around to your local nurseries now, in December, to see if they have any seed packets left from the last season.  We have received amazing seed donations this way.

Thank you for the wonderful book suggestions in your pdf.

The change of seasons is a momentous time marked by a number of natural phenomena and phenological events that can serve as engaging outdoor learning tools that spark curiosity, and getting to observing these natural phenomena starts with habitat! Do you have habitat in your yard or schoolyard where you and your students can witness these changes together? Need a literature connection to spark a conversation about the need for habitat?

Check out, download, and share the attached document that includes info on creating habitat with students through winter sowing. And consider getting a copy of the fantastic picture book I recommend in the pdf -- a beautifully illustrated book that starts a conversation about the importance of habitat for wildlife. You and your students can get a jump start on creating habitat this winter, and you can be attracting wildlife (and more learning opportunities!) to your space before the beginning of the next school year!

Let's share! Have you winter sowed with students? Have any tips? How do you use habitat or natural phenomena to engage students in learning?

------------------------------
Amber Keller
Massachusetts Master Gardener
Life Lab-Certified School Garden Educator
Natick, MA
------------------------------

The change of seasons is a momentous time marked by a number of natural phenomena and phenological events that can serve as engaging outdoor learning tools that spark curiosity, and getting to observing these natural phenomena starts with habitat! Do you have habitat in your yard or schoolyard where you and your students can witness these changes together? Need a literature connection to spark a conversation about the need for habitat?

Check out, download, and share the attached document that includes info on creating habitat with students through winter sowing. And consider getting a copy of the fantastic picture book I recommend in the pdf -- a beautifully illustrated book that starts a conversation about the importance of habitat for wildlife. You and your students can get a jump start on creating habitat this winter, and you can be attracting wildlife (and more learning opportunities!) to your space before the beginning of the next school year!

Let's share! Have you winter sowed with students? Have any tips? How do you use habitat or natural phenomena to engage students in learning?

------------------------------
Amber Keller
Massachusetts Master Gardener
Life Lab-Certified School Garden Educator
Natick, MA
------------------------------

I have done winter sowing for the past several years with our PreK, kindergartners and first graders. We too use milk jugs but instead of putting them in the garden beds, we surround them with 4 bales of straw. This allows for wind blockage but also keeps them insulated!  Every year has been a success in starting broccoli, lettuces, some native flowers and kale.  We are in central Missouri so you never know what the weather will be like!

The change of seasons is a momentous time marked by a number of natural phenomena and phenological events that can serve as engaging outdoor learning tools that spark curiosity, and getting to observing these natural phenomena starts with habitat! Do you have habitat in your yard or schoolyard where you and your students can witness these changes together? Need a literature connection to spark a conversation about the need for habitat?

Check out, download, and share the attached document that includes info on creating habitat with students through winter sowing. And consider getting a copy of the fantastic picture book I recommend in the pdf -- a beautifully illustrated book that starts a conversation about the importance of habitat for wildlife. You and your students can get a jump start on creating habitat this winter, and you can be attracting wildlife (and more learning opportunities!) to your space before the beginning of the next school year!

Let's share! Have you winter sowed with students? Have any tips? How do you use habitat or natural phenomena to engage students in learning?

------------------------------
Amber Keller
Massachusetts Master Gardener
Life Lab-Certified School Garden Educator
Natick, MA
------------------------------

Thanks for that tip, Hope! When do you and your students start winter sowing the veggies, and when are they generally ready to transplant? I've only tried winter sowing native plants so far, but starting the veggies outside rather than under my limited grow lights sounds like a great plan!!

I have done winter sowing for the past several years with our PreK, kindergartners and first graders. We too use milk jugs but instead of putting them in the garden beds, we surround them with 4 bales of straw. This allows for wind blockage but also keeps them insulated!  Every year has been a success in starting broccoli, lettuces, some native flowers and kale.  We are in central Missouri so you never know what the weather will be like!

The change of seasons is a momentous time marked by a number of natural phenomena and phenological events that can serve as engaging outdoor learning tools that spark curiosity, and getting to observing these natural phenomena starts with habitat! Do you have habitat in your yard or schoolyard where you and your students can witness these changes together? Need a literature connection to spark a conversation about the need for habitat?

Check out, download, and share the attached document that includes info on creating habitat with students through winter sowing. And consider getting a copy of the fantastic picture book I recommend in the pdf -- a beautifully illustrated book that starts a conversation about the importance of habitat for wildlife. You and your students can get a jump start on creating habitat this winter, and you can be attracting wildlife (and more learning opportunities!) to your space before the beginning of the next school year!

Let's share! Have you winter sowed with students? Have any tips? How do you use habitat or natural phenomena to engage students in learning?

------------------------------
Amber Keller
Massachusetts Master Gardener
Life Lab-Certified School Garden Educator
Natick, MA
------------------------------