The opening of the Cedar River trail

Opening of the Cedar River Trail

Glacier Park Green Team adopts the trail

This fall, the City of Maple Valley and King County working together made major improvements on the south end of the Cedar River Trail that winds through the forest near Glacier Park.  This trail stretches from the Cedar River in Renton beyond 280th street near Glacier Park.  A perfect place to walk the dog, bike with the family, or connect with nature, the trail winds its way through Maple Valley like a backbone; connecting neighborhoods, and providing a alternative  "green" mode of transportation.  

Prior to the opening of the trail, and in conjunction with Make A Difference Day, the Tahoma High School Green Team  members along with their advisor Mrs. Nance removed trash and debris. 
The Glacier Park Elementary School Green Team has adopted the trail and will walk the trail four times a year to clean up trash and report any needs for repair or other concerns.  Glacier Park Green Team was on hand for the ceremonial ribbon cutting and are looking forward to the opportunity to provide stewardship to this precious natural resource.  Maple Valley is a wonderful place to live and raise a family.  Our quality of life is enhanced because we have places in our city, like this trail, where we can relax, enjoy nature, and spend time with our families. 

Make a Diffence Day Success

On the 18th of October the large storage container was moved from in front of the Glacier Park Garden.  Make a Difference Day is Saturday and I have big plans for this space; but are overwhelmed by the amount of work that needs to be done.  The Maple Valley Make a Difference committee has awarded us $250.00 to build 6 new boxes, Cedar Grove compost has donated compost to fill the boxes, P&D tree service will supply wood chips, and I am counting on a large crowd of Glacier Park families to provide the manpower.

On Saturday morning a rise extra early to give my son a ride to the airport; it's 4:30 a.m. and raining so hard that it is almost impossible to see the white lines on the road.  Each time I splash through one large puddle on the road  my heart sinks a little lower with the knowledge that our turn out will be small if at all in this wet, wet, wet weather. 

Once home, I load the lumber into the truck, the rain is has changed from pelting to a drizzle, and I head for Glacier Park. From the top of the hill; I catch my breath, Look at all the cars!  I drive around back, through the gate, and see many families have arrived.  Awesome!  Glacier Park Families rock!    Everyone is anxious to chip in; several dads start on the boxes and the garden is a beehive of activity. 
In the end, everything on the "To Do" list is done.  Glacier Park has a well organized garden with 14 raised beds ready to plant in the spring.  What an honor it is to work with families that have such a strong sense of community.  All of the produce grown in the garden is donated to the Maple Valley Food Bank.

Our Garden has become a great outdoor classroom.  The worm bin gives us the opportunity to show students decomposers, vermiculite, anatomy of a worm, and sustainability.  This year we plan to add Orchard bees to the garden.  Orchard bees are a non-stinging bee that does not colonize or create honey.  They are an early spring bee and are the primary pollinator of fruit trees.  This will naturally lead into pollination, plant life cycle, and photosynthesis.  Last year may class noticed that the fruit trees had little bugs that were causing the leaves to roll up. We used the computer to research and found that the trees had aphids; upon further observation we noticed that there were 1,000's of small ants all over the tree branches.  This was an opportunity to show how some insects have a symbiotic relationship.  The possibilities are endless. 

Thank you to Mr. Maryanski who could see the possibilities and helped to get the container moved. This wouldn't have been possible if it wasn't for the parents and students who care for the community and volunteered their time to work in the garden.  Thank you to the support we received from the community; P&D tree service, Cedar Grove Compost, and Make a Difference Committee.

Community Contributors

Glacier Park Students are Community Contributors

Although the unusually cool summer weather caused Mrs. Davidson and I concern; the garden harvest is abundant.  Above students and Mr. Thomas proudly display fresh produce which wil be donated to the food bank.  Our tomatoes are abundant with several ripening to a deep crimson everyday.  Green Team will start in October and we have a long list of tasks to prepare for next years planting.  The garden will be expanded next year by at least 6 raised beds.  We are currently working on funding for the purchase of the bed materials, additional tools, additional soil, fertilizer, and seed.  This fall we hope to build a larger tool shed so the our green house can be solely dedicated to vegetagle starts.  In addition, we hope to introduce more student voice into the garden as they research and then display their learning in a display case creating an outdoor classroom for students and the community to enjoy.   

Mason bees will join the worms as our special garden pets.  Orchard mason bees are very effective pollinators. Two or three females can pollinate the equivalent of a mature apple tree in one season. They fly in cool or rainy weather and can supplement or replace honey bees as commercial pollinators in some situations.  These bees are super pollinators and are safe for a school environment because they are non-stinging.  Active in the early spring, mason bees will pollinate our apple trees which could produce fruit next fall. 

Please feel free to visit the garden this fall.

Mrs. Haws

Life Lessons in the Glacier Park Garden

Susan Davidson collects green beans from the garden behind Glacier Park Elementary to be donated to the Maple Valley Food Bank.

Life lessons in the Glacier Park Elementary garden in Maple Valley

By TJ MARTINELL
Covington Reporter Reporter
Aug 31 2011

In a fenced area behind Glacier Park Elementary, kids in Susan Davidson’s third grade class learn how to make a “three sister garden.”
It’s an old Native American method of growing crops. Corn is planted along with green beans and pumpkin. As the season progresses, the corn stalks shoots up, acting as a natural poles for the green beans to wrap around. The wide, thick pumpkin leaves, meanwhile, provides shade for the soil, maintaining the moisture in it and reducing the demand for water.
First meant to be ornamental in nature, the Glacier Park Elementary garden has grown, along with its plants. Originally a few patches of vegetables, it’s now surrounded by a fence to prevent rabbits and other animals from devouring the plants. A greenhouse was eventually built by Boy Scouts and is used during the initial sowing process.
According to Davidson, the garden has a very strong appeal to the students. Last year, there were 50 kids in the Garden Club, which is open to students in the second through fifth grade and runs from March until June.
Davidson, as well as Cathy Haws, a third grade teacher, use the garden as a part of their classes. There is also the Green Team, a year long program for third, fourth and fifth graders. The Green Team uses the garden area as a part of its water conservation and recycling efforts.
“They love to help,” said Davidson of the students. “If they see Kathy or I, they ask us, ‘Can I work in the garden?’”
By working in the garden, Davidson explained, the students learn useful skills, such as proper digging, planting and watering techniques, as well as effective methods to protect them from insects and animals. Ladybugs are accumulated and spread around the gardens to eat harmful insects, while the outside perimeter of the fence has what is called a “bunny buffet.” Plants rabbits are known to be eat are planted there, so they will remain around the fence and not attempt to climb over it.
For potatoes, a tire is filled with dirt and seeds are sowed. As the potatoes grow, more and more tires are added, along with dirt.
The garden grows a long list of vegetables and fruits, including potatoes, zucchini, cucumbers, squash, raspberries, strawberries, green beans, onions, cabbage, corn and pumpkin. So far, they have added four more garden beds this year, as well as two apple trees. Davidson said they plan to continue expanding as space and funds allow.
“It keeps getting bigger and bigger and bigger,” she said.
Last year, the garden produced enough vegetables and fruits for them to be donated to the Maple Valley Food Bank.
Davidson called the inspiration to donate a habit of mind on behalf of the students.
“They are always looking for ways to contribute,” she said. “They love to help.”
Last year, Davidson said around 30 pounds of vegetables were given to the food bank. This year, however, she was able to deliver that much in one trip. Since the plants grow differently, the deliveries will be made in intervals.
Because the food bank receives mostly canned vegetables, Davidson explained fresh vegetables and fruits are greatly appreciated.
The garden itself is maintained through a combination of students during the school year and volunteers during the summer months. Davidson said the last time the students saw it, the plants were just shoots.
“They’ll be amazed to come back here and see all their hard work,” she said.

The garden looks great; special thanks to all of the families that helped with weeding and watering over the summer. Our first delivery to the Maple Valley Food Bank included; zucchini, crook neck squash, cucumbers, cabbage, beans, beans and more beans.

 I am so looking forward to the students harvesting the potatoes.  It is always a thrill to be part of the excitement.  Watching students eagerly digging through the dirt and the squeal of delight when they find a potatoe; it is those moments of learning and discovering we strive to obtain in the classroom.  I am not sure our pumpkins are going to make it but I was surprised to see that we have several cantaloupe, and eggplant.  Next year, we are expanding our garden by at least 6 beds; one of the beds will be an herb garden.  The outdoor classroom concept is very engaging for students.  Our garden teaches us sustainable living, community service, symbiotic relationships, cycles, respect for nature, insect studies, water conservation, just to name a few.  I am so grateful we have a supportive administration that recognizes the value of environmental education.

 A web site that I was introduced to this summer provides organic vegetables delivered to your door. The box includes a variety of vegetables, in session, and some great recipes just in case you are not sure how to prepare some of the items you receive. You can customize your produce box as often as you like and choose from hand-selected organic fruits and vegetables plus all-natural groceries – like milk, bread, cheese and chocolate from artisan producers. It is a great way to support local farms and create a safer world and promoting awareness of the impact our diet has on our health and the health of our planet. http://www.fullcircle.com

Garden Pictures June

Beautiful visitor to the garden. I wonder if it is one of the butterflies hatchreleased by the kindergarten?

Squash Hill

Three sister garden  corn, pumpkin, and beans.

A quiet beautiful place

Smoke bush

Watch for pictures throughout the summer.

Turning Seattle's Food Scraps Into Gardening Gold w/ Cedar Grove Compost

Mrs. Dawson came to Green Team today and shared great information about the Cedar Grove Compost. She showed us the above video which was just wonderful. We learned that food waste in the land fill turns to methane gas. By composting our food scraps we reduce methane gas which is destroying the ozone. Did you know that all food scraps; meat, vegetables, fruit, dairy, etc. can go in the yard waste and food scrap tote? Additionally, by composting instead of using the garbage disposal we are conserving water. Green team members were given a Tips sheet and a compost able bags so that they can start composting today. Special thanks to Mrs. Dawson for being a community contributor and helping us to understand how we can be more sustainable.