Emerson Update: Progress in Pictures

If you've visited Pocket Square Farm before, you may remember that I helped my friend, Brett, plant the Emerson Elementary Organic Garden earlier this school year. In my first blog about the school project, photos mostly portrayed large wooden raised beds filled with good soil... and not much else.

Much has changed in the Emerson garden over recent months as Brett and his students have carefully tended their patch of earth. Here is their progress in pictures.

The lime tree has been pruned way back to encourage side shoots and allow for more sunshine in the plot (front left raised bed).

View from the front sidewalk, where orange flowers frame the entry arbor.

This garden's success is due to Brett's diligence and his students' enthusiasm. I stop by occasionally to give advice.

Seeds and seedlings are planted close together to provide maximum yield.

Although we thinned the carrots tremendously, their green tops are still thick as a forest. At this moment in time, the carrots about about a finger's length and width. Brett plans to invite the kindergarteners out to share a fresh-from-the-garden snack (carrots) with his 5th graders in the near future.

Lettuce continues to be one of his top sellers at classroom farmer's markets.

Sugar snap peas have reached the top of the trellis and need to be pinched back weekly. This stops them from growing taller and, instead, encourages side growth (and more peas).

The sweet, white flowers of sugar snap peas wither away as the pea develops.

The blooms are delicately beautiful, in and of themselves.

Onions planted from sets (small bulbs) have sprung up beneath the lime tree. We expect to harvest full-grown onions over the summer months, or perhaps even in the fall.

Radishes grew to golf-ball-sized proportions, and were harvested and sold at their last farmer's market.

Cauliflower was a popular item at Emerson's last farmer's market. Each large head sold for $4.00.

Broccoli is a very profitable crop. Once the main heads are cut and sold for $3.00 each, Brett's class will be able to harvest secondary, side-springing florets, which can be bagged and sold together at a similar price.

Brussels sprouts are beginning to form marble-shaped buds at the intersections of their stalks and lateral stems.

Purple cabbage is just beginning to form heads.

Chinese cabbage has already been harvested a few times, and it continues to pump out beautiful, large, tender leaves perfect for stir-frying.

Green cabbages will be ready to harvest in time for Saint Patrick's Day!

And then, there were a few pretty surprises of the floral variety.

Johnny Jump Ups are tiny rays of sunshine on a cold winter's day.

We will continue to harvest winter vegetables, most likely, through mid-March, where after we will pull and compost the remaining stragglers that are no longer producing. Our plan is to do spring planting sometime near--surprise!--spring break, with hopes that Brett's students will get to enjoy some of that wonderful summer produce before school ends in mid-June.

Stay tuned for more fresh happenings... in the Emerson Organic Garden.