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It's August, and our gardens are in full bloom across the city! We hope you enjoy this gallery of garden snapshots from our 7 school gardens. Our gardens are located at P.E. Bowe, Bowie, Dupont, Lambert Lavoie, Litwin, Stefanik, and Streiber. If you are interested in helping out with garden maintenance, please email Greta at gshwachman@cpsge.org. Thank you!
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 Nutrition FactsSage like most herbs have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties as well as anticancer actions. Some health benefits of sage is increase in brain function and protecting the brain. How to HarvestMost herbs are great to be harvested in morning or early afternoon to have the ultimate freshness, especially sage. When harvesting sage you either can harvest leaf by leaf or cut an entire stem off, using scissors. If this is your first time growing sage only harvest lightly then for the years to come you can pick as much as you want. Fun FActSage was rubbed on teeth to make them whiter in nineteenth-century America. Insider Tip: Sage pairs well with butternut squash! For a delicious pasta dinner, cook pasta in butter with sage and garlic, and then toss in roasted butternut squash and sprinkle liberally with Parmesan cheese. Yum!
 Nutrition FactsNot only is parsley a source of vitamins and antioxidants but also has health benefits. Parsley has breast cancer protection, fights inflammation, strengthens bones, and helps with digestion. How to HarvestTo harvest parsley, you need scissors because like other herbs parsley likes to be snipped. When harvesting parsley grab a handful of parsley then you snip at ground level. Fun FActsParsley stems have a stronger flavor than the leaves. Add chopped parsley at the end of cooking for a burst of freshness.
 Nutrition FactsBasil contains antioxidant vitamins and phenolics, is a rich source of vitamin K, zinc, calcium, magnesium, potassium and dietary fibre. How to HarvestThe method to harvesting this herb differs depending on the amount you intend to pick. For small batches, just pick it off the amount you want from the plant. For larger batches, you pick top down. Cut back a third of the plants height, if cutting the entire stem of the herb plant. Cutting by thirds allow the plant to produce more, allowing you to harvest more. Fun FactBasil repels insects like mosquitoes. Basil has properties that are toxic to mosquitoes.
 Nutrition FactsMint has the highest antioxidant level. Benefits of mint is that it has anti-inflammatory agent that reduces seasonal allergy symptoms. How to HarvestYou need scissors and a basket to be able to harvest mint. When harvesting mint you should cut 1-2" above the ground. Fun FactsThe US produces 70% of the Worlds peppermint and spearmint Insider tip: There's tons of mint ready for harvest at the Stefanik Garden!
 Nutrition FactsZucchini and summer squash provide nutritious value to your diet. Zucchini and summer squash provides vitamins B6, riboflavin, folate, C, and K, and minerals, like potassium and manganese. Health benefits of zucchini are improvement in digestion, lowers blood sugar level, improves thyroid and adrenal functions, and boosts energy. How to HarvestZucchini and summer squash that are ready to harvest are 6-8 inches long and are firm and dark green or yellow. Harvesting zucchini and summer squash, you can use a knife, scissors, or pruners. With the tool you cut about 1" to 2" from the body of the fruit. If you don’t have a knife or scissors you can use your hands. Grab the zucchini or summer squash fruit and twist it. Pulling the zucchini or summer squash may cause damage to the zucchini or summer squash and the plant. Fun FActThe world’s largest zucchini on record was 69 1/2 inches long, and weighed 65 lbs. Bernard Lavery of Plymouth Devon, UK, was a farmer who grew the vegetable.
 Nutrition FactsGreen beans are a good source of vitamins A, C, K, B6, and folic acid. In terms of minerals, green beans are a good source of calcium, silicon, iron, manganese, potassium, and copper. Other benefits of eating green beans are reduced heart disease, and detoxifying harmful metabolites. How to HarvestGreen beans are ready to harvest when the bean is 4 inches to 7 inches long and a width a little bit larger than a pencil. Harvesting green beans, grasp the bean where the bean and vine meet and just pull. Fun FactIn the city of Blairsville, Georgia they have a festival called Green Bean Festival. On every last Sunday in July the city honors the vegetable, celebrating with cooking contests, beauty pageants, and other fun activities.
 Nutrition FactsFiber, potassium, vitamin C, vitamin B6, and phytonutrient are provided in eggplants. Eating eggplant benefits your aid in digestion, weight loss, anti-cancer-potential, improves bone health. Prevents anemia, and improves brain function. How to HarvestEggplants are ready to be harvested when the fruit has a glossy and thin skin. There’s a test that can be used to determine eggplant maturity, by using your thumb press it against the fruit. If the flesh springs back it’s green and not ripe; if your thumb leaves an indentation, the fruit is overripe. To harvest, the best method is to use a sharp tool like a knife or scissors. With that tool cut 1 inch of the stem still attached to the eggplant. Using your hands to harvest will ruin the plant and the fruit. Fun FactEggplants are relatives to the potato and tomato. Insider Tip: We have mini eggplants growing in most of our school gardens! You can harvest when they are purple and 2-3 inches long. They're great chopped up and roasted or cooked on a skewer.
 Nutrition FactsCucumbers are mainly made out of water and have complex plant compounds. They contain vitamin B1, B2, B3, B5 and B6, folic acid, vitamin C, iron, calcium, zinc, magnesium, phosphorus and potassium. Other healthy benefits is they are high in nutrients, contains antioxidants, and promotes hydration because of the high content of water that cucumbers have. How to HarvestWhen cucumbers are ready to be harvested you use a knife or a sharp tool to cut 1 inch of the stem off, this will allow the cucumber to stay fresh if you decide to store the cucumber for long period of time. Twisting or pulling may cause damage to the vine and plant. Fun FactBefore taking a shower, rub a cucumber slice on the mirror and it won’t fog up.
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Authors:The ChicopeeFRESH team is a group of creative individuals who are working to feed Chicopee students healthy, local and FRESH foods each day. Archives
November 2021
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