Apples. Apples, Apples!

"Mmm!", "Wow, that's sour!" and "That's my blue-ribbon favorite" were just a few of the comments heard as students sampled a variety of local apples during Wednesday's lunch block. Students in grades one through three lined the length of the hallway, eager to sample (and sample again!) the tasty treats. "This is the best apple I've ever eaten" said one third grader. Students seemed to favor the Honeycrisp, Cortland and Fuji varieties while the staff enjoyed the Blue Pearman. "It's a mix of sweet and sour and it's crunchy too" commented third grade teacher, Rachel Wendell, as she headed back to her classroom after supervising third grade lunch. An apple for the teacher too? How appropriate. The apples came from McDougal"s Orchards in Springvale, Maine and were left over from Central School's School Garden Open House.

Principal Vicki Stewart slices and dices.

Students think about how they would describe each apple's taste.

How did it taste? Students keep track using tally marks.

First School Garden Open House A Hit

Today's open house was a feast for the senses- the smell of the moist plants in the hoop house, the taste of apples (12 varieties!), the bleating of the sheep and soft neighs of the ponies, feeling the wool as it was worked into a ball, the sight of families as they built their own scarecrows. I learned about invasive insects, that the apples on our tree ARE edible (!), how to make felted wool, how to grow giant pumpkins and that my favorite kind of apple is blue pearman. I saw children and adults reach out to touch (and climb upon) a 900 lb pumpkin. I saw a miniature pony munch on wildflowers. I saw children carefully placing pieces of tissue paper on plastic lanterns. It was a wonderful day. Thank you to all of you who made it possible, especially:

Central PTO
Pauliina Pope
SoBo Central
University of Maine Cooperative Extension
Denise Trabold
Kris Bisson and her Girl Scout Troop
Sally Gilbride
Terrence Parker
Kathy Gunst
Maine Dept. of Agriculture
Leigh Robinson
Carla Swasey
Full Circle Thrift Store
Bill and Gretchen Straub "The Pumpkin Lady"
McDougal Orchards
Marshwood Education Foundation
The Works Health and Fitness Center
Hilltop Fun Center
Our many, many volunteers!

If you missed today's Open House, you can catch us at the Quarkfest, October 9th at the Brookford Farm in Rollinsford, NH.

Over 900 lbs of pure fall fun!

On October 1st Central Elementary School will be hosting its first School Garden Open House from 10-2. Visitors will be able to:

Tour the Hoop House and Outdoor Classroom
View student projects and "hopes and dreams" for the hoop house
Try a variety of apples at the Girl Scouts' Apple Tasting Table
Learn about wool through felting
Check out an Invasive Insects display
Make Your Own Scarecrow
Pet bunnies, chickens, baby goats and a miniature pony
Have your picture taken with a 900 pound pumpkin and "The Pumpkin Lady"
Learn more about SOBO Central
Register to win Kathy Gunst's new book, a membership to The Works or laser passes to Hilltop Fun Center
Learn more about Central School's PTO
Participate in a community picnic

We hope to see you there!

"Notes from A Maine Kitchen"

Kathy Gunst's latest book, "Notes from A Maine Kitchen", is now available. A literary cookbook, Kathy shares twelve warm, heartfelt stories of life in Maine along with numerous recipes made from fresh, local foods. To learn more about her book, check out "A Love Letter to Maine". For a signed copy, visit River Run on September 26th at 7 PM. Central School's school garden is mentioned in Kathy's chapter "November" which highlights the issue of hunger in Maine.

Central School Hosts School Garden Open House

Central Elementary School will be participating in the Maine School Garden Open House on October 1st from 10-2 PM. There will be many activities including guided tours, taste tests, sheep sheering demonstrations, a petting zoo and more. Stay tuned for more information!

http://www.seacoastonline.com/articles/20110922-NEWS-109220407

Fresh Food Express Featured in Taste of the Seacoast

Read "Chefs Move to Schools", an article about Central School's very first salad bar from their own hoop house, written by our own Amy Bevan!
http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/98e2eeea#/98e2eeea/56

Q and A With Kathy Gunst

While talking about her new book, "Notes from a Maine Kitchen", author and chef Kathy Gunst makes mention of Central School's hoop house and guest-chef program, the Fresh Food Express.
http://www.pressherald.com/life/audience/fresh-fare_2011-09-04.html?searchterm=kathy+gunst