Remember when I had written about the ongoing project with my E2 class, about the making of a class garden book, to go with the garden that they started to make with their teacher, Angelos Michalopoulos? Well, our book has become quite big now, and it is still going to grow a bit more…

The students are researching the way the seeds or plants they have planted look, then they try to convey that in the pictures they draw. Then they research some info about each plant, and write it in Greek and English. So far we have finished with the following, and there is still some info to be added:

Βαλεριάνα – Valerian

Σινάπι – Mustard

Μουσμουλιά – Medlar

Βλίτο – Pigweed

Σκυλάκι – Snapdragon

Στέβια – Stevia

Ρίγανη – Oregano

Πετούνια – Petunia

Ροδακινιά – Peach tree

Σέσκουλο – White beet

Κατηφές – Dour

Πασχαλιά – Lilac

Τομάτα Μεσσηνίας – Messinia tomato

Πατάτα σπούντα – Spud

Τομάτα Γαστούνης – Gastouni tomato

Μελισσόχορτο – Lemon balm

Κλήμα – Vine

Φασόλι – Bean

Χρυσάνθεμο – Chrysanthemum

Κολοκύθα – Pumpkin

Φακή – Lentil

Γλυκιά πιπεριά – Sweet pepper

Πιπεριά Πηλίου – Pelion pepper

Καλαμπόκι – Corn

Αγγούρι – Cucumber

Φράουλα – Strawberry

Μελιτζάνα – Eggplant

Ραδίκι – Radish

Τομάτα Ace – Ace Tomato

Πιπεριά Φλωρίνης – Florina Pepper

Καρπούζι βαρέλα – Oblong watermelon “Varela”

I had a hard time choosing the photos I wanted to show you, because many of the kids did amazing work, drawing. I will show you our book when it finishes, but for now I would like to show you some pictures I took of our garden this afternoon; I got emotional seeing this little paradise, knowing it grows just one breath away from where we have our lessons. Thanks so much, Angelos!

Spring has sprung! It is still quite early to dress lightly, but spring is definitely in the air! I am so so happy that the E2 class students started a garden at the back of our school, with the help of their teacher, Angelos Michalopoulos and Mrs. Olga Venizelou-Rouva, a gardener who admins the Facebook group called Ομάδα Παραδοσιακών Σπόρων Πύργου Ηλείας.

I was around when they first started planting the seeds, so I helped them make the labels.

Then I offered help to make a kind of garden book, if they wanted to, and the students were thrilled! There’s a lot of artistic talent in this class, as some of the children can draw really beautifully, so this was another chance for me to try and put this side of them to good use.

We started by making a list of what they have already planted in the garden. The students googled the items to find the English translations and see images of them. Then they drew and painted. Then we wrote a few lines about each plant in Greek and English.

But the project is still unfinished, as there are plenty more plants growing from seed in small plastic, reused containers, waiting to be taken outside, which is when we will add more pages to our book! We are also thinking about adding photos and leaves or flowers from the plants. We have already found a great piece of cardstock to form the front and back covers of our finished book, but for the moment we are all waiting, patiently!