Indoor Gardening Club: Grow Vegetables for Salads in 7 Days
Learners will meet up weekly to plant an indoor garden and grow salad greens that they can harvest in as little as 7 days while reflecting science concepts and cooking skills.
Peter Burke, BA Ecology & Agriculture
Average rating:
5.0
Number of reviews:(267)
What's included
1 live meeting
40 mins in-class hours per weekClass Experience
Learners will watch in awe as their little seeds burst forth from the soil, change color from translucent white to rich green, and cast off their seed hulls with the strength of their growing seed leaves. In-contrast to bean sprouts which are grown in a jar, soil grown sprouts are grown in a tray of potting soil. Each class, learner’s will plant a tray of sprouts, discuss the sprouts that they grew last class, and discuss the theme of the day. Each class will feature new information that will make them into better sprout growers and better gardeners in general. I will feature a theme in nutrition, botany, or a life skill like patience. Each theme stands alone and will not reference previous classes. Some classes will feature a topic in botany such as photosynthesis. Learners can observe how the sprouts turn from pale white to green when they are exposed to sunlight. What is happening insides the sprouts that causes them to change colors so fast? Topics Include: Nutrients in sprouts Photosynthesis Roots, water, and soil Patience Sprout Salad Potting Soil Abundance Vitamins in Sprouts Mold No prior experience required. Parental help required for the following steps: 1. Soak 2-3 tablespoons of seeds and some folded sheets of newspaper 2 to 24 hours before the class. 2. After 4 days in a dark warm space, like the cupboard above the fridge, the sprouts must be taken out, put onto a window sill, and watered. 3. Harvest with scissors and eat!
Learning Goals
Students will be able to plant their own tray of sprouts and nurture them to maturity. They will learn the three ingredients to any happy plant: soil, water, and sunlight.
Students will explore a rolling list of themes that relate to sprouting. They will learn how plants grow, how plants nurture us, and what plants can teach us about being alive.
Other Details
Supply List
Learners will need some help to acquire the following: - Seeds - Jar - Seive - Tray - Soil - Newspaper - Cupboard - Windowsill Optional (suggested for committed sprouters): - liquid organic fertilizer, such as Neptunes Promise seaweed emulsion Where to buy the non-household items: A stop at your local Agway or similar farm & garden supply store should satisfy the majority of your sprouting needs. Amazon links are also included for reference. For seeds, Black Oil Sunflower seeds sold as birdseed are often the easiest option. Other great sprouting seeds are: field peas, buckwheat, or radish. These seeds are often available in bulk for agricultural purposes. For trays, I often use aluminum bread loaf trays which are available at most dollar stores, but a cereal bowl or a Tupperware can also work fine. The tray shouldn't have holes in the bottom. For soil, regular potting soil which you would use for houseplants will work -okay-. I would suggest using regular potting soil if you are trying the class and aren't sure if you will keep sprouting. Sometimes there are problems with mold because of the fertilizers in normal houseplant potting soils. The best option is a blend of peat moss and perlite without any added fertilizers, an example of which is linked below. Links: Seeds: https://www.amazon.com/Premium-Black-Oil-Sunflower-Seed/dp/B08ZFQRVFM/ref=asc_df_B08ZFQRVFM/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=532827065901&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=11917753839784493919&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9003076&hvtargid=pla-1375919044710&psc=1 ~$14 Trays: https://www.amazon.com/Aluminum-Loaf-Pans-Pack-8x4/dp/B07N6MNVFR/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=aluminum+bread+loaf+trays&qid=1629928067&sr=8-2 ~$12 Soil: https://www.amazon.com/Carnivorous-Natural-Ingredients-Sundews-Pitcher/dp/B07T85C17V/ref=sr_1_19?dchild=1&keywords=peat+moss+perlite+potting+soil&qid=1629928345&sr=8-19 ~$10 Here is an all-inclusive kit which I have never tried before but does include all of the basic ingredients. The seeds included are spicy so not the best for kids: https://www.amazon.com/Microgreens-Growing-Broccoli-Urban-Botanic/dp/B08ZCRM4H5/ref=asc_df_B08ZCRM4H5/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=507604315818&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=10177744344348551265&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9003076&hvtargid=pla-1230614479329&psc=1#customerReviews ~$10
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Sources
Optional Book:
Year-Round Indoor Salad Gardening: How to Grow Nutrient-Dense, Soil-Sprouted Greens in Less Than 10 days
By Peter Burke
https://www.chelseagreen.com/product/year-round-indoor-salad-gardening/?gclid=CjwKCAjw1JeJBhB9EiwAV612y9ihKNFboHs3H-m6rRaSl73zA-PbkWY7RJS_U2cNS3dU7QYGqeA80RoC-cEQAvD_BwE
Joined July, 2020
5.0
267reviews
Teacher expertise and credentials
Non-US Teaching Certificate in English to Speakers of Other Languages
Bachelor's Degree in Science from Hampshire College
I studied agriculture and ecology in my self-designed major at Hampshire College. I am familiar with the homeschooling pedagogy from my own experience searching for alternative education models for my undergraduate degree. I have presented at organic farming conferences about soil grown sprouts, managed farms and gardens professionally, and taken several natural farming workshops. I am a self-described ecology nerd and take pride in knowing the local plants and animals of my region. I have taken many plant walks with professional herbalists and I am familiar with the wild edible and medicinal plants of New England. Reviews
Live Group Class
$12
weekly1x per week
40 min
Completed by 7 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 7-12
1-9 learners per class
