The Garden TEam (a.k.a. bog team)
Volunteer in the BOG
Whether you're interested in planning or planting, taking a leadership role or occasionally helping out, all are welcome! There's no experience necessary, and the Blaine Organic Garden is a great place to fulfill volunteer hours in lieu of student fees.
Please join us to help with...
· Planting seeds, replanting perennials, mulching and weeding on nice days
· Working with teachers, students and clubs to fill the planters, develop lesson plans and take on special projects
· Running a popular middle school club
· Raising funds to support the middle school club and ongoing garden care
· Creating stepping stones with the students
· Thinking about ways to make the BOG better and more valuable to the Blaine community
Questions? Want to be on our email list? Pop a note to Amy ([email protected]).
Please join us to help with...
· Planting seeds, replanting perennials, mulching and weeding on nice days
· Working with teachers, students and clubs to fill the planters, develop lesson plans and take on special projects
· Running a popular middle school club
· Raising funds to support the middle school club and ongoing garden care
· Creating stepping stones with the students
· Thinking about ways to make the BOG better and more valuable to the Blaine community
Questions? Want to be on our email list? Pop a note to Amy ([email protected]).
CHECK OUT OUR RECENT PRESS:
Blaine's Organic Garden in the Lakeview Patch
WHOLE KIDS FOUNDATION HONORS BLAINE'S BOG
Click here to see us on PINTEREST.
GOALS
The Blaine Organic Garden Planning Committee formed in January of 2012 as an off-shoot of the Green Team. One of the Green Team’s goals was to create an outdoor space on Blaine’s property that could be used throughout the curriculum at all grade levels.
The Blaine Organic Garden (BOG) Planning Committee has focused on four goals for the chosen site, the two square areas east of the school building, along Southport:
Improve the flow of students, parents, and teachers through the area.
Currently, it is extremely congested during pick-up after school. Kids and parents crash through the bushes to get around the crowds and also to cut the corners if they are late in the morning. By opening up the space and providing a semi-circle walkway through both squares, it would redirect foot traffic.
Create one or two outdoor classroom spaces. The southernmost square will house up to eight “Edible Plant Beds” which will be wooden boxes filled with organic soil. Each bed will have a bench built into one side. The beds can also be covered with plywood to be used as seats when there are no plants growing. There will also be a pathway and grass where children can sit on small foam mats in the same area. The northernmost square is designed to have a brick paved area and seating such as picnic tables, wooden benches, footstools, or flat rocks. Therefore, there would easily be room for two classes to use the redesigned space simultaneously.
Provide opportunities to use the outdoor classrooms throughout the curriculum.
As part of the garden plans, the BOG planning team wanted to create opportunities for learning across the curriculum. The options are only limited by the teachers’ imaginations! Following are some of the areas we have identified:
Engage the community in creating and enjoying the new space.
The community has been primarily defined as Blaine students, their families, Blaine teachers, and the administration. We are inviting kids and parents to help design and create the BOG. A survey is going to be issued to get teacher input and students will have the opportunity to suggest ideas. The semi-circle pathway that runs through both areas is reflective of the “polka dot” theme that has been painted on the walls in the school. The use of colors in the gardens and any included artwork will also reflect the Core Values color choices. Beyond the school community, we hope that the surrounding neighborhood views the BOG as a more inviting space than what exists now. It would be ideal if neighbors could plant in the edible beds and help care for the gardens during the summer months, but that is a goal reserved for the future.
The Blaine Organic Garden (BOG) Planning Committee has focused on four goals for the chosen site, the two square areas east of the school building, along Southport:
Improve the flow of students, parents, and teachers through the area.
Currently, it is extremely congested during pick-up after school. Kids and parents crash through the bushes to get around the crowds and also to cut the corners if they are late in the morning. By opening up the space and providing a semi-circle walkway through both squares, it would redirect foot traffic.
Create one or two outdoor classroom spaces. The southernmost square will house up to eight “Edible Plant Beds” which will be wooden boxes filled with organic soil. Each bed will have a bench built into one side. The beds can also be covered with plywood to be used as seats when there are no plants growing. There will also be a pathway and grass where children can sit on small foam mats in the same area. The northernmost square is designed to have a brick paved area and seating such as picnic tables, wooden benches, footstools, or flat rocks. Therefore, there would easily be room for two classes to use the redesigned space simultaneously.
Provide opportunities to use the outdoor classrooms throughout the curriculum.
As part of the garden plans, the BOG planning team wanted to create opportunities for learning across the curriculum. The options are only limited by the teachers’ imaginations! Following are some of the areas we have identified:
- Science
- Nutrition
- Math
- Environmental Issues
- Writing Prompts
- Growing Plants
- Reading Time
- On-Site Field Trips
Engage the community in creating and enjoying the new space.
The community has been primarily defined as Blaine students, their families, Blaine teachers, and the administration. We are inviting kids and parents to help design and create the BOG. A survey is going to be issued to get teacher input and students will have the opportunity to suggest ideas. The semi-circle pathway that runs through both areas is reflective of the “polka dot” theme that has been painted on the walls in the school. The use of colors in the gardens and any included artwork will also reflect the Core Values color choices. Beyond the school community, we hope that the surrounding neighborhood views the BOG as a more inviting space than what exists now. It would be ideal if neighbors could plant in the edible beds and help care for the gardens during the summer months, but that is a goal reserved for the future.