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Grow Kit ApplicationIf you are interested in receiving a GROW KIT for your school garden please make sure you are a member of our Partner Program. Once you fill our our member form, you will receive a thank you email with the link to the GROW KIT Application.
Application Deadline March 15, 2022 Sonoma County SGN PArtner SChoolsGROW KIT application available March 2022 to all Sonoma County SGN Partner Schools.
North Bay Area SGN Partner SchoolsAfter March 2022 the GROW KIT application will be open to all SGN Partner Schools in the greater North Bay who are able to pick them up.
Nation-Wide SGN PArtNer SchoolsAfter March 2022 the GROW KIT (no plants) application will be open to all SGN Partner School nation-wide if quantities allow. Remember, please register as an SGN Partner School before your application. GROW KIT Postage not included.
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SEED COLLECTIONS |
Plant Collections |
5 Sisters Seeds CollectionWe could not just stop with the classic three sisters, corn , squash and beans; we had to throw a few more in the mix! Plant your corn first, then, once established, plant beans at the base of the corn to provide structure for the pole beans. Squash shades the corn roots. Beans provide some nitrogen. Amaranth and Sunflower provide beauty and added nutrition
Corn ‘Magic Mana’
Bred by Carol Deppe to ripen early in cold weather and for superior flavor in cooking. Cobs are solid white, red, tan, or pink. Deppe claims each color lends itself best to certain dishes--white for pancakes, tan for gravy, red for parching. All have a wonderful, aromatic flavor. Plants are short (4-6' tall) and cobs long, thin, and very early maturing. Bean ‘Hidatsa Shield Figure’
Phaseolus vulgaris A prolific pole bean that is a selection of the Slow Foods Ark of Taste. Drought and heat tolerant. It is a traditional 3 sisters bean originally grown in the Missouri River Valley of North Dakota by the Hidatsa Indians. Creamy texture. Holds shape well when cooked. Can be eaten as a fresh or dry bean. Amaranth ‘Burgundy’
Amaranthus hypochondriacus The white seeds were an important grain in the Aztec diet. Amaranth grain is gluten free and a complete protein, meaning it contains all the essential amino acids including lysine, which is lacking in cereal grains. Grow this as a nutritious, rice-like grain, or for the bright leaves to use in salads. Amaranth is an edible landscaping star with its human height and plumed flowers. Sunflower ‘Hopi Black Dye’
A traditional dye crop developed and selected for generations by Hopi farmers who used the dark black seeds to produce a purple or gray dye for wool and baskets. Grows to 6-12’ tall depending on fertility and spacing. Produces a large main flower at the top of the stalk up to 12” across. 65 days to flower and 100 days to mature seeds. Squash ‘Sweet Meat Oregon Homestead ‘
10-15 round slate gray round squash renowned for it’s superb keeping quality and rich, sweet flavor. Great for pies. Vigorous vines can spread up to 10 feet so give it some room! NUTRITIOUS GRAIN
Seeds feed the world! This is a collection of nutritious grain seeds that you can grow and harvest with your students! Leave some on the stalk for the birds too! Collections will include an assortment of amaranths, quinoas and Dakota Black Popcorn
Dakota Black Popcorn
Zea mays One of the earliest maturing and easiest to grow popcorns. 6-8” ears on 6′ tall plants. Dark black kernels have a ruby-red, glassy shine when held in the right angle of light. The pointy kernels pop bright white with a small black hull still attached. The flavor is delicious, hearty and crunchy. Many popcorns lack this richness, which gives Dakota Black the ability to act as a meal all by itself. Developed by the Podolls of Prairie Road Organic Farm, seed growers in North Dakota. Amaranth ‘Hot Biscuits
Amaranthus cruentas Golden orange branching plumes stand upright and approximately 4’ tall with tan seeds. Grown by some for its edible seed, Amaranth has been grown for over 8,000 years and was a staple food of the Aztecs. Very high in many nutrients. Beautiful ornamental. Plant in May or June. Quinoa ‘Multihue’
Chenopodium quinoa A shorter season variety that is perfect for cool Northern climates as well as hotter inland climates! Growing 5-6’ tall, these slender plants produce chubby club-like flower clusters in Summer ranging in color from yellow to vivid red to mauve and all the colors in between. Space plants 1’ apart and provide excellent drainage and protection from strong winds. Seeds are ready for harvest in the Fall when they have hardened. Fully dried and de-chaffed seeds can last 6 months or more! The tasty leaves can be eaten at any time. Prepare them as you would spinach. Seeds contain a bitter saponin so you must thoroughly rinse until water runs clear. DRY BEAN
Dry beans are the ultimate garden fall harvest. Harvest once pods have completely dried and watch the students eyes as they discover the jewel like seeds within the pods. Bean seeds can be saved to grow again the following summer or shared with other school garden programs
Cherokee Black - Pole Bean, Fresh, shell, or dry
Pole Bean--Fresh, shelly, or dry Phaseolus vulgaris ‘Cherokee Black’ This heirloom bean was carried by the Cherokee people over the Trail of Tears in the winter during a forced relocation from the Smoky Mountains to Oklahoma (1838-1839), leaving a trail of 4,000 graves. Green 6" pods with purple overlay, shiny jet-black seeds. Dry beans have a delicious rich flavor. Can also be used as a snap bean. Plant in May. Harvest when pods are completely dry Whipple - Bush Bean--Dry
Phaseolus vulgaris ‘Whipple’ Great rich flavor when cooked, it is especially good in chili. This bean is on the short list of favorite bean varieties that are adapted to the Pacific Northwest. Vigorous bush plants may have short runners. The beans themselves resemble Early Warwick but are larger and a darker maroon color. The Whipple family, for which this bean is named, worked closely with Martin Luther King Jr. before moving to Douglas County, Oregon, in the 1970s. Eventually this bean was introduced to local growers and gardeners via seed swaps. Purple Speckled. 95 days. Plant in May. Harvest when pods are completely dry Tiger's Eye - Bush Bean-Dry
Phaseolus vulgaris ‘Tiger’s Eye’ Prolific plants reach 36 inches tall so need some room to sprawl or climb. Pods dry down early. Handsome, ocher-colored beans from Argentina have a maroon swirl for the look of a cat's eye. They have a buttery-smooth texture and rich, hearty flavor. Great for refried beans. Plant in May. Harvest when pods are completely dry. These are usually the earliest to dry so start checking in late August early September. Black Coco
Phaseolus vulgaris Black Coco is much larger, oval round and very shiny compared to other black dry beans. Although it is said to be a good snap green bean, the pods quickly become tough and stringy once they mature. It is very good for making a rich flavored black bean soup. This variety is early maturing and grows on an upright, strong bushy plant. Anasazi - Bush Bean-Dry
Phaseolus vulgaris ‘Anasazi’ The Anasazi Bean is a beautiful maroon and white bean, similar to Jacob's cattle bean. Identified as one of the few cultivated crops grown by the Anasazi cliff dwellers. Sweet flavor, meaty and nutty. Originally cultivated in Central America, from Mexico to Peru, Bolivia and Argentina. The smaller beans are thought to have been cultivated in Mexico as long as 7,000 years ago, while the larger beans were cultivated in Peru starting 8,000 years ago. High in protein, easy to grow, dry and cook, they have sustained mankind for millennia. Bush habit. Plant in May. Harvest when pods are completely dry. |
SALSA PARTY IN THE GARDEN
This collection will include 4-6 Peacevine Cherry Tomato plants; 6 sweet pepper plants, 6-10 onion starts; 3 cucumber plants and lemon cilantro seeds! Plant in May and harvest away in September. The Peacevine cherry tomato will also provide lots of juicy fruit for grazing children!
Tomato’ Peacevine Cherry’
Lycopersicon lycopersicum Indeterminate. Developed by Dr. Alan Kapuler. Tremendous producer of 3/4 inch cherry tomatoes borne on trusses. Most fruit is red, although occasionally orange/gold; exceptionally delicious and high in vitamin C. Peacevine earned its name from its high content of gamma amino butyric acid, an amino acid that acts as a calming body sedative. Pepper ‘Sweet Italian Sunset’
Capsicum annuum A blend of yellow, orange, and red sweet peppers. Terrific salad peppers with few seeds and rich saturated color. Early setting and long bearing plants get to 24” tall. Pepper ‘Hatch’
Capsicum annuum A mild - medium pepper grown in the Hatch valley of New Mexico since 1894. It’s possible that some fruit could have some heat so taste before working with the students. Plant in well-drained, amended soils. Peppers enjoy some overhead water before fruiting to get a good canopy. This canopy will protect fruit from sunburn. Cucumber ‘White Stallion’
A crunchy sweet white cucumber originally from China. Provide a trellis for it to save space in the garden. Transplant in May in very well amended soils. Provide consistent water through out the summer. Harvest while small 4 -6 inches. HERBAL COLLECTIOn
This collection will delight the senses and provide nectar and pollen for the birds and the bees.
Parsley
Taste on nibble walks or let go to flower as a great insectory plant. Parsley likes well mulched soils and consistent water. Chives
Make a beautiful rose colored chive flavored vinegar with the pink flowers, add to cream cheese or tofutti and put on crackers with edible flowers for a garden canape. A great addition to all school gardens Lemon Verbena
a delight for the senses this is one of our favorite sensory plants. Give it room as can grow to as much as 5’ across. Will die back in winter but will recover in spring Pineapple Sage
Another sensory delight. Rub the soft leaves for a faint scent of pineapple. Hummingbirds love to visit. A wonderful edible flower. Can grow up to 4’ across. Plant together for better impact for hummingbirds. Calendula
A wonderful edible flower and can bu used as a natural dye producing a soft yellow color. Can infuse oil with the slightly dried petals and use for a soothing skin salve. Produces abundant seeds for saving for the next year. Lavender
A fantastic plant for the bees and for our noses! Leave most of the flowers for the honeybees but dry some to scent dream pillows. Drought tolerant. Basil
See if you can find some reasonably priced mortar and pestles (check Asian markets) to make pesto the classic way in the garden with kid power! Likes well amended soils, even watering and regular harvesting once it has sized up or it will flower. EAT YOUR GREENSAvailable in August for pick up. Plant early so that plants can size up before the daylight hours decrease too much.
Chard- Ceres Red
Mix-A vigorous chard that is a mix o f green and red varieties, not a true variety. Some have red stems, others white. Plant March through September for either large plants or can be used for baby saute mixes. Grown at Ceres Community Project. Chard Fordhook Giant
First introduced by Atlee Burpee in 1929. Very productive, large green leaves with large white stem. Plant in well amended soils in August.This allows the plants to size up before daylight hours start to decrease too much. Keep well watered and mulched. Kale Mix
A mix of kale varieties. Kale is one of the most nutrition dense plants in our garden. Sliver kale and massage with oil and lemon for a garden kale salad. Plant in well amended soils in August.This allows the plants to size up before daylight hours start to decrease too much. Keep well watered and mulched. Flashy Collards
Big, vigorous plants produce sweet, tender mild, blue green leaves all summer and then over winter well to provide greens through the fall, winter and early spring.High in calcium. Plant in well amended soils in August.This allows the plants to size up before daylight hours start to decrease too much. Keep well watered and mulched. Purple Sprouting Broccoli
We like this big old sprouting broccoli because it’s beautiful tasty sprouts appear in late winter and early spring when there is not much else producing. It adds to the flow of fresh food by producing during the “hungry season”.Plant in well ammended soils in August.This allows the plants to size up before daylight hours start to decrease too much. Keep well watered and mulched. Brussel Sprouts
We think these are kind of a Dr Seuss looking plant with it’s tall stalk with mini cabbages on them. They are sure to amaze the students. Plant in well ammended soils in August.This allows the plants to size up before daylight hours start to decrease too much. Keep well watered and mulched. Lettuce Mix
We will have a variety of lettuce plants grown from locally produced seeds from Bohemian Farms and the Community Seed Exchange. Lettuce is a fun plant to save seed from as it does not cross with other lettuces or wild lettuce. Save a few lettuces at the end of the bed to let flower. That alone is amazing. I mean who thinks of a lettuce flowering right? And then you will be amazed by the abundance of seeds a couple of lettuce plants will produce. It is sometimes harder to get the plant to seed in the fall before the rains. Easier to save seeds in the spring but worth giving a try. Plant in well ammended soils in August.This allows the plants to size up before daylight hours start to decrease too much. Keep well watered and mulched. |