Edible Flowers in Alaska

Heidi Rader

A Lesson Plan for Gardening in Classroom in Alaska, By Amber Reece, An Alaskan Master Gardener Subject Area: Art and Writing Grade Level: Grade 3 Ideal Season For Lesson: Fall Nasturtiums are a spicy, edible flower. Photo by Heidi Rader. Time to Complete Lesson: 90 minutes, divided into three activities Materials Required: Chart paper or other media for recording class discussions Hand drawn flowering squash poster Prepared observation recoding forms (1 per student) Assorted edible flowers such as nasturtiums, pansies, squash flowers, lilies, broccoli, cauliflower Drawing paper and drawing supplies Writing Read More …

“Handy” Parts of a Plant

Heidi Rader

A Lesson Plan for Gardening in Classrooms in Alaska, by Cheryl Illg, an Alaskan Master Gardener   Subject Area: Writing/Reading/Science Appropriate Grade Level: Grade 2 Ideal season for lesson: Spring Time to complete lesson: 2-3 hours, in four activities that can be divided over several days, if desired. An Asiatic Lily. Photo by Heidi Rader. Materials Required:  From Seed to Plant (Rookie Read About Science) by Allan Fowler From Seed to Plant by Gail Gibbons The Tiny Seed by Eric Carle Construction paper scissors pencils yarn glue lily or other Read More …

What Do Plants Need to Grow?

Heidi Rader

A Lesson Plan for Gardening in the Classroom in Alaska, by Cheryl Illg, An Alaska Master Gardener Subject Area: Writing/Reading/Math Grade Level: K-3 Ideal season for lesson: Spring Time needed to facilitate lesson: 1 hour to plant seeds and make first observation. Then there will be several weeks of observation, measurements and documentation. The young surviving plants may then be transplanted outdoors into a garden or planter box to grow for the summer once there is no more chance of frost. Usually June 1st in the south and central parts Read More …

Good vs. Bad Bugs in the Alaskan Garden

Heidi Rader

A Lesson Plan for Gardening in the Classroom in Alaska, By Shawna Sastamoinen, an Alaskan Master Gardener Subject Area: Science  Grade Level: 3rd  Ideal Season: Fall or Late Spring  Time to complete lesson: About 3 to 4 hours. Additional time will be needed to complete the Curricular Connections/Extension Activities.  Suggested Materials: Specific materials from the Cooperative Extension website are suggested for use in each section where they apply. See bibliography for more pictures and ideas.  Goal and Outcomes: After completing this lesson, students should be able to identify good and Read More …

How Tall Is your Sunflower?

Heidi Rader

A Lesson Plan for Gardening in the Classroom in Alaska, by Sabrina Silvernale, an Alaska Master Gardener Photo by Heidi Rader. Subject Area: Math Grade Level: K-3 Ideal Season for Lesson: Spring through Early Autumn Time Needed: 20-30 min per activity   Materials Needed: Sunflower seeds, 3 per student. Look for tall varieties, different colors Garden space: Each student’s 1-3 seeds should be planted 12-18 inches from the next students’ 1-3 seeds) Tools to prepare soil, shovel or trowel Strong bamboo canes, one per student, labeled with his or her Read More …

Growing Broccoli and Cauliflower in a Greenhouse in Tok, Alaska to Extend the Season

Heidi Rader

By Mary Hinckley We experimented with broccoli and cauliflower this year, the purpose of the experiment was to find out where they grew best. The seeds were started very early, and ready to be transplanted before the ground was outside, so most of the plants went into the greenhouse first.  We kept some indoors until the ground was warm enough to transplant. Last year both broccoli and cauliflower grew quite well in our greenhouse, but this year we insulated it and thought that could make a difference. Both species seemed Read More …

Seed Starting With Kids in Alaska

Heidi Rader

by Sue Ryan, an Alaska Master Gardener As a mother of four, I am always looking for ways to include my kids in my love for gardening. This spring, I was able to pique their interest by having them help me start seeds for our summer beds. Not only do kids love to learn about how things grow, they are also more likely to eat and try new veggies that they have grown themselves. Devious, I know! In the past, my starts have been miserable attempts with few of the Read More …

Got Gravity? 10 Steps to set-up a low-tech drip-irrigation system using gravity and rain.

Heidi Rader

by Heidi Rader, Tribes Extension Educator  Photos by Donavan Kienenberger If you lack indoor and outdoor plumbing like many of us in Alaska, then a rain collection system is essential for gardeners. A full tank or a slight slope is usually sufficient to provide enough pressure for a basic drip-irrigation system. Drip-irrigation is a great way to conserve water as well as water only the plants that you want to grow., i.e. not weeds. If you have a small garden, soaker hoses are a simple ways to water your garden Read More …

Building a Greenhouse in Tok, Alaska

Heidi Rader

by Mary Hinckley, An Alaska Master Gardener in Tok, Alaska Last summer my husband, Snooks, built  me a greenhouse. He had the green thumb but he said the greenhouse was for me. It was beautiful and I was touched, but I was no gardener. I’d spent a lot of time dodging gardening responsibilities for fear of killing something beautiful. I was willing to learn, however, and at a friend’s suggestion I enrolled in the Alaska Master Gardener Online course.  The class fit perfectly into my schedule and gave me the Read More …