December 6, 2013

On Friday December 6, 2013, the EcoHuertos program held a garden creation workshop at the Braulio Paulino Polytechnic school in Tamboril, Santiago.

Along the side yard of the Eastern wall of the educational center, we set up plastic gallon containers along the walls, and erected a perimeter fence around planter boxes that had been previously stored at students’ homes. The fence, 9 by 15 feet, was made with recycled wooden pallets. Old rubber car tires were also used to plant seeds, which were donated from local tire repair shop.

Students collected coconut shells discarded by coconut water vendors, and broke them up to be used as substrate base for the planter beds, as they retain humidity and add nutrition to the soil. One of the students also brought some organic compost he had made at home.

All the students from the November 15th EcoHuertos Induction Workshop took part in this activity. They worked with their Physical Education teacher alongside the carpenter in building of the perimeter fence.  They cleaned up debris and other useless material from the area, pruned trees and prepared the beds for planting.

They planted the following: leeks, tomatoes, green beans, passion fruit, eggplant, ginger, garlic, peppers, celery, spinach, okra, beets, carrots, radishes, onions, melons, cucumber, parsley, basil, lettuce, cilantro, rosemary, lavender, oregano, pennyroyal, peppermint as well as some ornamental plants like bromeliads, Huernia(from Milkweed family), Snake Plant and Sedum.

The students demonstrated incredible energy and wonderful spirit throughout the whole morning. They worked as a team and dedicated their positive energy and time to creating a fabulous garden.

Congratulations!