Jubilee Garden Seedlings

Table of Contents
Table of Contents................................................................................................................................. 1 Jubilee Garden Seedlings..................................................................................................................... 1 Project Introduction & Description........................................................................................................1 Materials.............................................................................................................................................. 2 Growing Seedlings............................................................................................................................... 3 Veggie Signs........................................................................................................................................ 4 Prayer Card (Optional)......................................................................................................................... 4

Project Introduction & Description

The purpose of this project is to grow plant seedlings for the Jubilee Garden. The Jubilee Garden provides garden fresh produce to the Lake Zurich and surrounding communities' food pantries, including but not limited to St. Vincent de Paul, Emmaus House Community Dinner, and Alpine Church. The garden grows a variety of 'staple' vegetables: beans, cantaloupe, corn, cucumbers, peppers (jalapeo, habanera, yellow wax, and bell), pumpkins, tomatoes, and tomatillos that are harvested several times a week for the food pantries. In 2011 and 2010 combined, 6,000 produce was grown at the Jubilee Garden. Both of these past growing season used only of the Jubilee Garden that is only two of the four garden plots available. This upcoming season, 2012, all four garden plots will be planted. The Jubilee Garden is sponsored by St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church, but takes a community of help to be successful. Planting all four plots will require more help, especially in the job of growing seedlings. Some plants naturally grow better when their seed is directly sown in soil, such as yellow wax and green beans. Other plants need a head start as seedlings to combat our areas shorter growing season, such as cantaloupe, pumpkins, peppers, tomatoes and tomatillos. Growing plants from seed is the preferred method for the Jubilee Garden because it requires less labor; however, about of the of the gardens plants require seedling transplants and this is a huge task. The total number of seeds that will be germinated, watered and tended as seedlings for tomatoes, tomatillos, and peppers is an astounding 570. Wow. There are several volunteers that will be helping out with that task. The Jubilee Garden is reaching out to classrooms, scout troops, and youth ministries to help grow seedlings. This process will start in early in the spring (March/April) to be transplanted into the garden in early May. The schedule of the group, i.e. when they can start to germinate the seeds and when they can come out to the garden to plant the seedlings will help determine which plant seedlings they will be growing. Signs will identify the crop and the group, made by that group or garden volunteers. It is the hope of the Jubilee Garden ministry that the individuals within these groups continue to come to the garden in the summer to check on their plants. It has been customary for groups to visit in the spring and fall, but it is within the summer months when the plants flourish. Plants grow in summer, continually developing new branches and leaves. From the new growth of branches, grow flowers that develop into fruits and vegetables that are then harvested. The summer is an exciting time.

Jubilee Garden Seedlings Materials

3-5 Seeds - Provided by the Jubilee Garden o Each person will receive 2-3 seeds. Occasionally, seeds do not germinate and sprout. Growing Container You can start seeds in almost any container 2 to 3 inches deep, with small drainage holes at the bottom. The container needs to be large enough for the seedling roots to develop and hold enough soil so that it does not fall apart when transplanting. o Newspaper seedling pots check out the Jubilee Garden video that shows how to make these green, bio-degradable pots o Plastic food containers: Yogurt (8 oz.), Cottage Cheese, or Country Crock, o Paper Cups, Planting Container Tray o Tray to catch the water that may come out of the bottom of the seedling containers. If the seedlings are allowed to sit in water gathered in the bottom of the containers, the roots may root and the seedling dies. Holes in the bottom of the seedling container will allow excess water to drain and the planting container will catch this excess water. o Tray may be a plastic lined shoe box top, plastic food take out box, anything that will hold water. Greenhouse Container o Soft drink and large juice bottles (with their bases removed and lids on) can be placed over the pots to help to keep the seed-raising mix damp so that the pots don't need watering very often. If used, save these as they will continue to be used at the garden in the case of cold weather. o Plastic Wrap (Optional) covering the seeds helps keep the environment warmer for the seeds to germinate, but once the seedlings start growing, care must be taken so that the growing environment is not too hot and burns the little plant. o Plastic milk gallons cut in half work as great greenhouses and planting containers, all in once check out the Jubilee Garden video. Planting Medium o Pre-mixed (peat, perlite, and vermiculite along with some nutrients), free from disease, insects, and weed seeds, o Soil from the backyard is not recommended as it is too heavy and may hamper the seeds from sprouting, Water Light o Seedlings need more intense light than full-grown plants--14 to 16 hours a day is ideal, but not realistic unless a grow light is used. o If they don't get enough light, or if the light isn't intense enough, they become spindly, leggy and weak. o Average room temperature of 60 to 70 degrees during the day and dropping by about 10 degrees at night.

Jubilee Garden Seedlings Growing Seedlings

Plant Seeds o Fill container with planting medium. Scoop mix into the containers to within 1/2 to 1 inch from the top, then tap it gently to settle it in. Smooth the surface but don't pack it down. o Poke a spot in the soil for the seed using a finger, pencil, etc, then place seed in soil divot and cover seed with soil (1-2 seeds per container), o Water and press down lightly. Be sure the water fully absorbs, Use tepid rather than cold water, place greenhouse top over seedling container, o Place seedling container and greenhouse top within planting tray and put in warm, sunny area where you can check them daily, o Once the seeds sprout, rotate your plants every couple of days so they don't have to stretch and reach for the light. Seedlings that are pale and weak are light starved. Unscrew the lids of the bottles to allow air to move around the plants, Water as necessary; do not let the soil dry out. If the seedling is wilted, water. Seeds need water and light once the seeds have germinated and have begun to sprout. Transplant Seedlings o When the seedlings are about 2 inches tall and have developed their second set of leaves, it's time to transplant them. o Seedlings are transplanted after any chance of frost in spring, usually mid-May.

Online Resources see http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/experiments/seedgermination.html

Jubilee Garden Seedlings Veggie Signs

Each group that grows seedlings for the Jubilee Garden can make a signs to represent their group and their seedling crop.

The main group sign should be limited to a 8 X 11 piece of paper which will be laminated, attached to a fence post, and posted in the area where crop will grow. Groups will easily be able to identify their crop in the Jubilee Garden so that they can follow up on their seedlings during the summer, maybe stop by to water, and bring their family and friends to tend their crops so that they flourish over the summer. Information you might want to put on your group sign: Group or Organization Name Veggie/Fruit Name Veggie/Fruit Picture General statement of why your group decided to get involved. For scout troops, maybe a picture of the badge earned with this project Leader and member names

The groups are encouraged to be creative with their crop signs. They signs can be two sided so that the members of the group can sign their names on the back of the sign.

Consider making smaller veggie/fruit row cards, 4X6 that identify the veggie/fruit with their name and picture. The signs help volunteers work at the garden when directed to a specific veggie or fruit area. This could be a fun project also. Get out some scrap pieces of wood and colorful paints. If made out of paper, the row cards will be laminated to protect them and put at each end of the rows. Two row cards will be needed for each row. There are two ends to all rows in the garden.

Prayer Card (Optional)

Prayer Poles are a way to put God front and center in the Jubilee Garden. Please consider getting involved in prayer at the Jubilee Garden. The prayer cards cover the inside of the shed doors and will be attached to fence posts throughout the garden plots. As God is the center of the Jubilee Garden, so are the Prayer Poles in the center of the Jubilee Garden. Write a prayer for the Jubilee Garden, that your seedling will continue to grow and be fruitful, producing a bounty of food for the needy. Maybe draw a picture or write down your favorite scripture verse. It is encouraging to have prayers and Gods word present in the Jubilee Garden, His garden. When volunteers come to the garden, they can read some of the prayers and scriptures to prepare for their time in Gods garden.

Jubilee Garden Seedlings

The prayer cards should not be larger than sheet of paper (4"x6). Be creative, use stickers, embellishments, or glitter. It will be so cool to see prayer cards throughout the Jubilee Garden!!! "With God all things are possible".