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    Essential Reading

    Program Overview

    The broad strokes of the Edible Learning Lab Program.

    Teachers Primer

    A guide to help teachers visualize their edible education program.

    Farmers Primer

    Learn how to turn your farm into an edible classroom.

    Organizations Primer

    Discover how you can bring edible education into your community.

    Grants & Funding

    There are numerous grants and funding sources to get you started.

    Equipment Recommendations

    Buy the same equipment we use in our flagship Lab.

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  • Lessons

    Advanced Lesson Search

    Beginner Lessons

    The Beginner Lessons form the foundation with a sound overview of the core concepts of food production.

    Intermediate Lessons

    The Intermediate Lessons allow students to experiment and prove the core concepts.

    Advanced Lessons

    The Advanced Lessons give students an opportunity to apply what they've learned in the previous levels.

    Lessons By Station

    Seed Starting Curriculum

    Soil Management Curriculum

    Vermiculture Curriculum

    Hydroponics Curriculum

    Composting Curriculum

    Water Management Curriculum

    Seed Saving Curriculum

    Teaching Kitchen Curriculum

  • Blog

    Our Top Posts

    What is a Food Desert?

    Gain insight into food deserts, the communities they impact, and how edible education may offer a solution.

    The Difference Between Rainwater and Tap Water

    Not all water is created equal especially when we're talking about the health and development of plants and people.

    Why Rain is Important

    Rain or the lack of an adequate supply can have profound effects on farming and the communities that rely on the harvest.

    Anatomy of a Seed

    It all begins with a seed and this article dives deep into the 5 primary parts of the seed that make it all possible.

soil

Using Food Scraps in the Garden

From Table to Garden

Jun 10 by Dave Creech Leave a Comment

By now I’m pretty sure we’re all on board with the idea of reducing our waste, especially when it comes it food scraps. I mean, composting is so easy and provides such a better alternative to adding to the landfill it’s kind of a no-brainer, right? But finished compost takes a while and your garden …Read More about From Table to Garden

Filed Under: Teach the Teacher Tagged With: composting, food scraps, garden, nutrients, soil

Types of Mulch

Types of Mulch

Jun 7 by Dave Creech 1 Comment

Mulch is an important component to soil-based gardens. Whether you’re using raised planters or gardening directly in the ground, mulch plays a key role in the quality and health of your soil. But to know what mulch will work best for your situation we must explore the different types of mulch and how they work …Read More about Types of Mulch

Filed Under: Teach the Teacher Tagged With: gardening, mulch, soil

How Plants Use N, P, K

How Plants Use N, P, K

Jun 5 by Dave Creech 3 Comments

We all need proper nutrition to be healthy. Proper nutrients allow our bodies and minds to function at their optimum levels, our bodies immune systems to fight off disease and heal from injury and encourage healthy rates of growth. The same is true for plants. NPK are the macronutrients that are most desired. Nutrients play …Read More about How Plants Use N, P, K

Filed Under: Teach the Teacher Tagged With: Macronutrients, Micronutrients, Nitrogen, Posphorus, Potassium, soil

Soil Vocabulary in Context

Soil Vocabulary in Context

Jun 5 by Dave Creech Leave a Comment

Let’s talk about dirt! Everything we do in the garden starts with the soil. Building healthy, happy, living soil is one of the biggest components to successful gardening. So it’s only natural that conversations about the health, maintenance and condition of the soil in our gardens happen often.   Understanding what makes “good” soil is …Read More about Soil Vocabulary in Context

Filed Under: Teach the Teacher Tagged With: soil, vocabulary

poor drainage

The Effects of Poor Drainage

Jan 5 by Dave Creech 1 Comment

The root systems of the plants in our gardens are very sensitive to environmental conditions. Heat, moisture, aeration, soil composition and drainage all have a dramatic effect on the health and development of our plants. A garden bed with poor drainage can create an environment that is simply impossible to grow in. It is vitally …Read More about The Effects of Poor Drainage

Filed Under: Teach the Teacher Tagged With: clay, drainage, Raised Planter Station, sand, soil, soil amendments

Soil Microbe Identification

Soil Microbe Identification

Jan 4 by Dave Creech Leave a Comment

The world looks very different under a microscope. Healthy soil is the most diverse and prolific ecosystem on the planet and with the aid of a little technology we can see the living microscopic world at work in our own gardens. It is important to understand what life looks like below the surface and how …Read More about Soil Microbe Identification

Filed Under: Teach the Teacher Tagged With: algae, bacteria, fungi, Raised Planter Station, soil, soil microbes, worms

soil pH test

DIY Soil pH Test

Dec 15 by Dave Creech 2 Comments

Is your soil more acidic or more alkaline? Testing the pH level of your soil can tell us a lot about what’s going on below the surface. Soil pH is measured on a scale from 0 to 14 with 7.0 equaling a balanced and neutral pH level. Above 7.0 on the scale is a more …Read More about DIY Soil pH Test

Filed Under: Teach the Teacher Tagged With: soil, soil pH, soil test

soil amendments

Soil Amendments and their Impact on pH

Dec 15 by Dave Creech 1 Comment

Not all soil is created equal. Many environmental factors can swing your soil’s pH out of balance one direction or the other. “pH” refers to potential hydrogen, or the hydrogen ion concentration of your soil. Using a scale from 1 to 14, it is a measurement of soil acidity. Neutral pH is 7.0. A soil …Read More about Soil Amendments and their Impact on pH

Filed Under: Teach the Teacher Tagged With: amendments, container gardening, edible learning lab, gardening, gardening with kids, pH, soil, teach the teacher

seed starting mix

Seed Starting Mix

Feb 19 by Dave Creech Leave a Comment

I started my seeds about a month ago because, well, I can. Living in Arizona means I can kinda get started whenever I want as long as we don’t have an unusual late-season cold snap. Even then, it’s not like we’ll have below zero temps down here in the Valley of the Sun. Yeah, it’s …Read More about Seed Starting Mix

Filed Under: Steader Lessons Tagged With: coir, compost, peat, perlite, seed soil, seed starting media, seed starting mix, soil, soiless seed mix, sphagnum moss, vermiculite

9 reasons why you should compost

9 Reasons Why You Should Compost

Jan 8 by Dave Creech Leave a Comment

How many of you still need convincing? Creating a compost pile at home is an easy and effective way to reduce our impact on the environment and use our resources wisely. Even if you’re not using it in a garden, it still makes more sense to compost than to continue to feed your trash habit. …Read More about 9 Reasons Why You Should Compost

Filed Under: Steader Letters, Teach the Teacher Tagged With: compost, composting, garden, gardening, soil

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