With the cooler weather finally upon us, the winter gardens are flourishing at Oak Forest Elementary School.  The lettuces, Brassicas, carrots, and cool season herbs are looking great. Even the two bell pepper plants are still producing beautiful peppers. Many harvests of collards, kale, broccoli, radishes (we are the radish capital of Harris County), lettuce, multiplying onions and turnips, among other things have gone

home in the students’ bags, and with the volunteers.  We will be starting to harvest beets, spinach, carrots and mizuna soon.  The citrus crop has been very generous so far.  This week we’ll finish harvesting the last of the tangerines, and start on the navel oranges.  The Meyer lemons will be next to be harvested.

The big activity for the students in the next few weeks is the pumpkin smash.  Much looked forward to, this yearly smash is possible due to volunteers and community members collecting pumpkins form neighbors and friends after Thanksgiving.  Pumpkins will be smashed, and the seeds removed for later use, while the remainder of the pumpkins are destined for the compost heaps to ‘heat up’ the piles.  That eventually becomes some super good compost.

Seeds are cleaned up and dried for Spring, when students plant them in pots to take home for planting.  Some seeds are also used for roasting, making a delicious and healthy snack.  And, many find their way into planting beds and the lawn, etc. by accident to germinate in the spring.  Ah, but those plants make great compost as well.

The smaller firm pumpkins will be used to grow a lettuce plant which will go home with any student wishing to care for it.  The tops of the pumpkins will be sawed

off and the seeds removed.  Then the cavity will be filled with compost and a lettuce transplant will be planted. As the plant grows leaves can be harvested for salads.  The whole pumpkin can be planted in the ground when it starts to fade.  The decomposing pumpkin will feed the plant and eventually feed the soil. Any

firm pumpkin can be planted this way with whatever one chooses.  

Sugar cane will be cut down soon.  This is also highly anticipated by the kiddos.  Lengths of cane are sent home to be planted or peeled for a sweet chewing treat.  Many of our Hispanic families use the peeled stalks in making a traditional holiday punch called Ponche Navideño.  It’s a delicious fruit punch that is served warm, with or without alcohol.

A big thank you to the club members who purchased preserves this year.  With your support of this and other programs, you are making a difference in the students’ lives at OFE. You can see pictures and read all about the program at www.ofegrowers.org.