THE HIDDEN GARDEN BY Sophia Hinz THE IMPORTANCE

THE HIDDEN GARDEN BY Sophia Hinz

THE IMPORTANCE OF HEALTHY SOIL Healthy soil absorbs and stores water. This is great protection against drought. Soil is a home for many insects & other animals. Soil filters and cleans water. This is why underground water is so clean. Healthy soil is full of nutrients that allow plants to grow. The plants absorb all those nutrients which means we our food is healthier for us.

HOW DOES WATER ASSIST OUR GARDEN? – Plants use more water then anything than else – Water care's nutrients from the soil to the plant cells – We must to be careful to give the right amount of water to the plants. Too much water can cause the plant to drown or the roots to rot. Too little water can cause the plant to not get enough nutrients and it will dry out.

SUN Plants use photosynthesis to make food. The plants trap the light energy with their leaves. They then use this energy to change water and carbon dioxide into a kind of sugar. This sugar is called glucose. The plants use this sugar as food.

The garden was started so that we can grow healthy organic vegetables. I called it the hidden garden because one can’t see it and the reason for this is that it is hidden right on the side of the property

In this garden we grow many different things lettuce stinging nettle spinach

eggplant thyme Lemongrass & mint Cape gooseberry Peppers

How our granadilla fruit grow 1 2 3 4

Some other plants that we grow: - spring onions - rosemary - nasturtium - guava - lemon - elderberry - turnips - mulberry

HOW WAS THE GARDEN STARTED? Step 1 We cleared the area. Step 2 We built a wooden fence to keep out the dogs. Step 3 We planned the space. It was important to make sure we can walk easily between the beds. Step 4 We built wooden frames for the raised beds. Step 5 We filled the raised beds with good quality soil and compost. Step 6 We spread wood bark mulch on the paths. Step 7 We spread straw all over the bed to mulch. One then needs to move the straw and make a spaces where the seedlings will be planted. Step 8 we can now plant seeds or seedlings.

Look who visits the hidden garden:

PLANS FOR THE GARDEN – We want to add more beds so that we can grow more vegetables – We want to plant a fig tree. – We need to trim the mulberry tree.

MY DUTIES – Helping plant seeds & seedlings – Weeding – Harvesting – Picking bugs off plants

COMPOST Compost is made of rotting organic material such as leaves, vegetables, fruit, etc. we use compost to add to the soil of our garden. It’s full of nutrients and it loosens hard soil. Good things to add to the compost heap: - Egg shells - Tea bags - Fruit waste - Peelings

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