June is often a time of transition. We're saying goodbye to fifth graders as they prepare for middle school. This year we are saying goodbye to our principal of four years, Steve Guziewski, who has always been supportive of Outdoor Ed at our school. Mr. G is moving on to a job in another district and we wish him well. Two of our veteran teachers, Nancy Curtin and Cindy Klemme, are retiring, and we will certainly miss them!
June is also the time of year when a lot of things in our garden are ending, and some are just beginning. Spring ephemerals in the woods are done blooming, and some of those plants have retreated back into the ground now that the trees are leafing out.
Remember the great pea project, when the 4th grade and some 5th graders planted 1200 peas to restore nitrogen to the soil? Many of those are ready to harvest before we let the plants die back into the ground.
Yes, there is plenty left to do, but all in all I'd say we accomplished quite a lot over the last year. Every student at Crestwood planted something, and most students planted multiple times. It's been a difficult year. The weather did not always cooperate for us, and there have been a lot of structural and administrative changes at the school level and district level that have added extra stress to the students and staff. As we cope with and adapt to these changes, it's reassuring to have our outdoor spaces as places of refuge and, if necessary, meditation. Something is always growing here.
I may be wrapping up this post, but please keep checking the blog for summer updates! Even if school is not in session, we'll be working plenty to keep the gardens growing and maintained for when the kids come back in the fall. We will host a workday or two for volunteers, harvest veggies that ripen over the summer, and generally do our best to keep things growing.
Happy summer vacation!
Cheers,
Susan