Garden Earth Naturalist Ecology Clubs and Give Wildlife a chance poster contest 2013-2014 calendar [2013]

Give Wildlife a Chance CGWAC) Poster Contest and Garden Earth Naturalist (GEN) Ecology Clubs have teamed up to bring you this great calendar!
e thank the children who have shown their love of the Earth. Poster contest artists express their stewardship of Earth's resources throu9h environmental artwork. Members of GEN Clubs investi9ate and restore their sites throu9h hands on investi9ations and Service Learnin9 projects.
See back pa9es for information about how your school or 4-H Club can participate in these pro9rams!
Program Partners: The Geor9ia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division, Non9ame Conservation Section The Environmental Resources Network, Inc. (T.E.R. N.) The State Botanical Garden of Geor9ia The Geor9ia Museum of Natural History Geor9ia 4-H

Division 1: Kindergarten (August) 1" Place: Ryan O'Connor St. Joseph Catholic Parish Athens, GA Sea Turtle

Division 2: 1'' and 2'' Grade (September) 1" Place: Andrew Edwards Pike Primary School Zebulon , GA
Summer Tanager and Live Oak Tree

Division 3: 3'' and 4'h Grade (Octot>er) 1'' Place: Cameron Rogers Ephesus Elementary School Roopville, GA Great Egret

Division 4: Sth Grade (Novemt>er) 1'' Place: Caroline Jones
Central Hatchee Elementary School Franklin, GA
Blackbanded Sunfish (Enneacanthus chaetodon)

What should I do with my calendar?
ut on your sneakers and do some real world exploring! Each month, your calendar highlights Questions to Explore and provides Key Workers that you might see in your own backyard. Use these to spur your outdoor explorations and note everything you discover on the pages of this calendar.
Garden Log: Each month will introduce a different project that you can monitor and record in the calendar. This is a great way to get in the habit of going outside each day and observing what's going on around you in nature and in your garden. You can record your findings in the calendar itself, or you may choose to start a nature journal.
Plant of the Month: Each month will feature a seasonal vegetable that you may be able to harvest from your garden or find at your local farm market. Eating seasonal produce from your garden or another local source is a way to ensure that you are getting the most nutritional benefit from your food. Fruits and veggies that have traveled the least number of miles to your plate have higher vitamin content and a lower carbon footprint-a great way to take care of your body and our planet at the same time!
Monthly Recipe: Each month includes a delicious, kid-friendly recipe. These recipes will feature the vegetable of the month, so you can harvest the main ingredient right from your garden (or farm market) and create the delectable treat with the freshest and most nutritious ingredients! What a sweet reward for all of the hard work you put into your garden!
You might note on your calendar:
February 5 - Found raccoon prints by cat bowls.
July 9- Saw 10 robins in my backyard.
October 20 - Collected 2 inches of rain in gauge.
A wise man named Henry David Thoreau once said, "What
good is a house if you don't have a decent planet to put it on?"

with Dip

Y-choiold~rN> ......... Pl.otco."""'"of)IIM'idol5._... ..... _1f'Ailhl

,....tb!AW,..........._,-.

fmh-dewrotl!

OfVIAon 4: Sth Grade 2nd Plac::Kalyn Humphries
Hamilton Elementary Hartsfield, GA

SUNOJl.Y

MONDAY

TUESDAY WEDNESDAY TftURSDAY

t:arrotsre~.~ Howdoyouknowlfcarrots

- ~ $> ~
...... ,.., ~w"rt,.

"-or

are9(l0dforyoureya7

. ~ Have:;<IUtNMet~a



f'lbbitwithgbsset?

3

4

5

6

7

FRIDAY

SAruRDAY
2

l:tw tklf Ill 4f'fteft
S...tone . . . , ", .

8

9

10

II

12

13

14

15

7

18

19

20

21

22

s.r-.e., .....
<f""0411d~

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

fwfl Moon
(5:271101)

31 TW AMuintl Soils are full of life. ACt.IP of soil can contain 50,000 arthropods, 20 million protozoans, and 200 billion bacteria!


liJ,-PLANT OF THE MO.NTH~' ~ .._. ....~-.";Pl~"" t~ ~--

'li'f""~n"-~

-

.f

'

~

presidents were all farmers? Thomas Jefferson grew over 300 vegetable varieties and 170 varieties of fruit on his
farm in Monticello, Virginia.

This delicious fruit is a sure sign of summertime! Watch your own watermelons grow on the vine in your garden, as the fruit forms from the base of pollinated flowers. Farmers know their watermelons are ready to sell when they knock on the hard shell and hear a hollow sound. Try knocking on the watermelons in your garden! What kind of sounds do you hear?

GARDEN

1. If

L 0 G:

w .You have access elgh and m

t 0

a

scale

that You h easure Produce '

arvest ~

.

garden . Rec

rom Your

and h

ord What

ow much it . You picked

Pounds and

Weighed in

tomatoes 8 ounces (example

Wat



ermelon

Pounds 5

6

ounces

ounces). Als~ Pounds 8

,

Weight of ha record the total

rvested

2 August IS one of

vegetables

months in Geor . our hottest

crops th . . gla. Certain

rtve In th.

While others d IS Weather.

teach

day

t o

onot.
reco d

Pick

a

t'
lme

emperature . r the air

th e

end

of

thIen

Your

garden. At

next to the 3 h month place a *

attest days.

,.tDivision 1: Kindergarten Place: Ryan O'Connor St. Joseph Catholic Parish, Athens, GA

INGREDIENTS:
5 cups of cubed watermelon (seeded ).
;..i cup of su<;~ar.
OTHER SUPPLIES:
8 small paper cups. 8 popsicle sticks.

INSTRUCTIONS:
Blend watermelon and su<;~ar in a food processor until smooth. Pour into a bowl.
Place 8 small paper cups into a bakin<;~ pan, and spoon in the puree, dividin<;J evenly.
Freeze for 2 hours (until almost frozen).
Usin<;J the tip of a small knife, make a slit in the center of each frozen mixture, and stick in a popsicle stick.
Freeze for 1 hour or more.

Website of the Month, for the plantinQ Quide for your Fall Qarden:
www.caes.uga.edu/applications/publications/files/htmi/BS77/B577PiantingChart.pdf

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY WEDNESDAY

Why do watermelons h"" foocy wedd;og<' ~ ~
' r. . ~ -

Becausethey cantaloupe'

THURSDAY
1

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

2

3

d:.LJ lj..:J
Whit Davis Elementary

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Family Hike SBG
9:00am

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

'

18

19 20

21

22

23 24

Full Moon
(8:45pm )

GARDEN NOTES

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

_: . .~:_ ~~,._->;-)lt::t~-~~~.s_J::~-:~:--Jl~r;.:~:e:-~~;;i

Did you know? Less than 1% of Georgians are professionalfartners;:,',~;.!~FU><i-_,

'

. . . -..

.- - .- ..- . -~ . . ';o ',--~-

but over 30% of GeorQia households grow food in Qarclens~: . Jr,~;.,SC

_ . :.<<~. :~~-~J/-~~ :~i'

%:~-':]_t;~{:f:(::

Tomatoes can come in many different shapes, sizes, and colors. Have you ever eaten a purple tomato? How about one the size of a grape? If you don't have any growing in your own garden, check out your local farm market to see tomatoes all the colors of the rainbow!

Hello! My name is Su9a Ma9nolia. My bees are hard at work in your 9arden collectin9 nectar at all the flowers. Their furry bodies and sticky feet spread pollen from flower to flower which is an important part of 9rowin9 delicious ve9etables like tomatoes! This month, let's observe some pollinators
at work in the 9arden.

GARDEN LOG:

~!ant i~ yoCuorugnat:rdPeincktahaFt~QIJ.te_

owenng. Once a w k

a day sit in F

ee or once

for ten minutront oF your plant

of all the that visit

tdhiFFe:s~eanntd pkoelelipnaatortas lly

can be bees efl' ossoms. Pollinators

hummingbirds Jes, butterflies,
the numbers ~:a.s~ts etc. Record

calendar.

VISJ ors on the

2. Look for cater ill

and butterfiJ'e p Dars, chrysalides

any you

you Find identify

s. raw
t~nemy.~ur

a

.
pic

t

ure

of

calendar. Can

Recipe: Salsa!

INGREDIENTS:
45 large fresh tomatoes.
Y.i cup chopped cilantro.
2 cloves of garlic. 1 small chopped onion. 1 chopped jalapeno pepper (optional). 1/4 cup lime juice.

INSTRUCTIONS:
Chop all of the ingredients into small cubes, and put into a medium-sized bowl.
Stir in the lime juice. Add salt and pepper to taste. Enjoy your salsa with chips or tacos!

Division 2: 1" and 2"d Grade 1" Place: Andrew Edwards Pike Primary School, Zebulon, GA

~ >[I'; C~ <Wtomhaytdoitdutrhnered? ~'ii

Because It saw the

,

salad dressing'

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

J ~ '",""\'-
~ ~ .J

.,1.

~~I

_,.:~

.
.:J

. ..)
_)

~'~\
JJJ

_}'7'._\_1:1-.r..J :J J

Athens Montessori School

8

9

International Literacy Day

15

16

Deadline to apply for DNR "Teaching
Conservation" grant
22 1 23 1

I Fall Equinox
(First Day of Fall)

I

29

30

10

11

12

13

14

National Peanut Day

Family Hike
SBG 9 :00am

17

18

19

20

21

24 1
I

Full Moon
(6 : 13am)
25 1 26 1
Johnny
I Appleseed's Birthday

lnsectival
I SBG
27 1National 28 1 Hunting and Fishing Day
Free Fishing
Day (statewide) I

Deadline to apply for DNR "Teaching Conservation" grant www.georgiawildlife.com/education/educatorresources
National Hunting and Fishing Day - http://georgiawildlife.com/getinvolved/nhfday Free Fishing Day (statewide)- http://goboatgeorgia.com/Fishing/FreeFishingDays

.~a
c:
Ql
E
Ql
Uj .uX
ftl
"iii'
:z.uX
GARDEN NOTES

Did you know? The Southern Blueberry bee is an expert at collecting pollen
from blueberry plants and rarely visits any other plant species.

Jl .) r.r \ ~J '-(' ~

_J_/

c

r__)
....

:...>.

J
In your garden ecosystem, my workers keep a healthy balance by controlling pests that make their dinner from your plants. Wasps, ants and spiders make excellent security guards
by capturing pests in your garden.

Pumpkins grow on a vine, just like watermelons do! Did you know that you can eat pumpkins? You may have tried pumpkin pie before. Also, the seeds can be roasted with salt for a tasty, crunchy snack, and you can bake and eat the whole pumpkin fruit! This Halloween
try getting one pumpkin for carving and eating the seeds, and one small "pie pumpkin" for eating!

GARDEN LOG:

I.

pSooImI l.neatiinnsgecotsr

help
eatin

th.e

garden

b'X

Other insects h g Insect pests.

by eating th arm the garden

and oth

e roots' stems, frU.its

Th. er parts of the plants

"h

IS
ar

mmfounl tbhukge"etpalaly"hnel

pf

u

l

bug "'

your garden.

or each day in

2. The leaves on ou r d

start chan

eCiduous trees

t

gmg color as the days

ge colder and short

and pick a t t ,er. Go outside

ree hats startin t

change color. Make a

. g o

tree with color at th drawing. of the

every week and t e beglnnmg of

throughout

th e

no ICe
month!

the

c h anges

Recipe: Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

INGREDIENTS:
The leftover seeds from your Halloween pumpkin.
Salt and Pepper. Cinnamon. Ve,;Jetable Oil.

INSTRUCTIONS:
Heat the oven to 375F. Rinse your seeds in a colander, removin,;J all of the
extra pumpkin-,;Joop. Once seeds are mostly dry, place in a bowl and drizzle
with oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper or cinnamon. Spread on a sheet pan, and roast in the oven for about
15-20 minutes or until the seeds are crispy.

Division 3: 3'd and 4th Grade 1st Place: Cameron Rogers Ephesus Elementary School Roopville, GA

Outdoor Learning Symposium (www.eealliance.org/outdoor-learning-symposium ) DNR CoastFest (www.goldenisles.com/event/coastfest)

SUNDAY

MONDAY

Did you know that pumpkin vines can grow six inches per day? You need a lot of space to grow pumpkins in a garden!

6

7

TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

1

2

3

4

5

World Vegetarian
Day

Outdoor Learning Symposium Oatland Island

DNR CoastFest
Brunswick

8

9

10

11

12

Family Hike SBG
9:00am

I ..., ;=t~
~ ,__ __,

~1 _j _.1

.:.J

_)..,!.)

.r ]~Y"\ Pt-;J':l'~~"tr.\ JJ -.~__]"-.J _j-.:JJJ

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

Full Moon

...

6:38PM

~
uccu:

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

='01
.c..:
cv
j

~

~

27

28

29

30

31

GARDEN NOTES

Did you know? Fun.gi also control .garden pests. Some fun.gi use their root-like hyphae to form loopin.g lassos in the soil that trap root-feedin.g pests called nematodes.

How do you
mend a broken
Jack-O- Lantern?

With a pumpkin patch!

PLANT OF THE MONTH

I'm Madame Squirrel and Fall is a busy time in my department. Many creatures are preparing for winter by harvesting and storing food. Seeds like acorns and pecans are energyrich foods that store well in nature's pantry.

When you look at a sweet potato patch, you may wonder, "where are the sweet potatoes?" That's because they grow underground! To harvest your sweet potatoes, take your garden fork and gently loosen the soil around the plants. Then, get on your hands and
knees, pull up the plant, and dig around in the soil to find the potatoes. It's like an edible treasure hunt!

G~RDE''.., LOG~ \<. b~"esL.

once

-- +wice
01--'--' .

o. ywoeuer

9' o.rden

o.nd\<.

soroethi.n.g frotroit ro.W-' l(eep tro.c

1\ CoOfO"w" hito.tory~eou.

hO.r'leSt now nd whetner

you t or no

prepo.red o.

U\<.ed It you

wo.rb\ers o.nd

birds, such ~s o.t thiS tiroe

2. w.o.nY re roigro.tlng bser"e

geese, o. utside o.nd o d or

of yeo.r. Go o in your bo.c\<.yo.r ee

d birds you :tRecord wh~t J~~u~t
scnoo\ yo. a.wing. o. blr .

b using o. r . u co.n figure

y both\ see If yo residents o.nd

or ou t

whi.C""

birds o.re roigro.nts.

which o.re

Recipe: Sweet Potato Fries

INGREDIENTS:
4-5 medium sweet potatoes.
2-3 tbsp. olive or vegetable oil.
Salt and Pepper.

INSTRUCTIONS:
Preheat oven to 400 F, chop sweet potatoes into long thin slices, and place in a large bowl.
Coat thoroughly with about 23 tablespoons of olive or vegetable oil, add salt and pepper to taste.
Spread the slices out on cookie sheets so that there is only one layer on each sheet.
Bake for 30-40 minutes. About 20 minutes into the baking time, take the sheets out and turn the slices over, scraping with a metal spatula if necessary (they can definitely stick! ).
The fries are done when they are crispy and slightly browned.

Division 4: 5th Grade 1st Place: Caroline Jones Central Hatchee Elementary School
Franklin, GA

SUNDAY
3
10
17
Full Moon 10:16 am
24

MONDAY

" "TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

Website of the Month: http://americarecyclesday.org

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

1

2

Madame Squirrel likes all the food that your site produces for animals, such as nuts, berries, leaves, mushrooms, and insects.

4

5

6

7

8

9

Family Hike

SBG, 9:00am

Fall Festival SBG

11

12

13

14

15

16

I f~ c.~

America Recycles Day

18

19

20

21 1 22

23

25

26

27

28

29

30

c-1 j r)'

1.,. 1 rJ. .,.;l

- _,

_.1" _l __, _)

JJJ6J _::-;~ ; JJ

St Joseph's Elementary

"' . ~:

,

~~ fl.

~ (I

.

~.~~..~11...f<~_~'::-!!::l~.t::_:.~:lrP,~-~".'.Y~~~r.,.-. .,~-.-. ~..._::._I>.._&.C~_/:4-_:->,_.'>:;.::>..:

-~-_:' '!!i~'~~~ ~.~~. .

~
:ucI E
u
iii

~: \"'~ :;:-_ !:"'

..,_

i.. ~
~:r (~

~ ~
. :....

........ "- ---~ ~~~:

,.:;. .
'. i...

"'c'01

'0::: 0..

.

. .. -~-..~:

, .f!",

~

':':;<~-~ ~--.- -~~~ (I)
c

- ,:f : .:.;. ~?''-~<.-":.f.. ,,.

0

!l

..... ..

'r~:~l>-
~-

GARDEN NOTES

That's Amazing! Australian honeypot ants store su9ary food in the abdomens of workers that han9 in the under9round chambers of the colony.

@ Why do sweet
potatoes make good II detectives?

~

f2#' Because they



keep their

eyes peeled!

Many of your favorite foods get their delicious flavor from this group of plants-herbs! Tomato sauce wouldn't taste the same without basil. thyme, and oregano, and salsa wouldn't be as flavorful without cilantro. Lucky for you, many herbs can be grown year round in Georgia! Try growing parsley, cilantro, and rosemary in your own garden throughout the winter!

Remember that ecosystems are all around you and plants and animals work together to provide the ecoservices that all living things need. Rosemary plants not only have chemicals to provide pest protection services, but also give people a fragrant herb for cooking, and breathing
the aroma may also boost memory.

_GARDEN LOG

1. This month



ap

We are

proaching th

of the Ye

e Shortest d

21st! M ar on Decembe ay

Fh. 1.be

rnatalnngy

anim
or h

a I s

are

r

or the Wint ave migrated

log of Yo er. Keep a
inhabitan~~ g~rdens Winter

Worms b .

You see

mice et'c?lrds, signs of deer,

2. This is a

harvest hgreat time to

herbal

erbs vin

and

make

or other .tegars, Wreaths
These it I ems WIth herb
holiday pems make great s. resents F.
and relatives! or Friends

Division 1: Kindergarten 2nd Place: Clara Kropp
The Museum School of Avondale Estates, Decatur, GA

INGREDIENTS/SUPPLIES:

INSTRUCTIONS:

Glass bottles with corks that fit and seal.
Vinegar of your choice (cider, white, rice, white wine, etc.).
Herbs that are growing in your garden: rosemary, oregano, parsley, sage, lemongrass, mint, your choice!

Cut sprigs of your favorite herbs, and add them to the clean, glass bottles.
Create your own combinations such as rosemary and oregano, or mint and lemongrass.
Fill the bottles up with your choice of vinegar.
Cork the bottles, and let the flavors infuse the vinegar for a few weeks before using.

SUNDAY
1

MONDAY
2

TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY

3

4

5

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

6

7

State Botanical Garden of Georgia Camp

81 15 1 22 1

91 10 1
161 17
Full Moon 4:28am
23 1 24 1

11 1 18 25 1

12 1 19 26 1

13 1 14
Family Hike SBG
9:00am

20

21

Winter Solstice
(Fi rst Day of Winter)

27 1 28

Russell Elementary

29

30

31 That's Amazing! Did you know that some toads di~ down into

~arden beds and spend the winter in the soil?

GARDEN NOTES

Fact: Yellowstone National Park, the world's first national park, was established by an act of Con~ress in 1872,
with over 2,220,000 acres!

PLANT OF THE MONTH
Lettuce can come in many shapes, sizes, and colors, just like tomatoes! It can be <:,Jreen or red, sometimes speckled! The smooth, ruffled, or wavy leaves <:,)rows in heads that are tall and obion<:,), short and round, or wide and close to the <:,)round. In Geor<:,Jia, the seeds can be sown at the very end of winter. Try plantin<:,J many different types of lettuce in your <:,)arden!

Hi, kids! Take some advice from Dr. Arrow. If you want to keep your 9arden healthy, 9row a diversity of crops. After a season of tomato
9rowin9, plant lettuce the next year to keep disease populations low.

1 GARDEN LOG





J"anuarv Coldest-T-


IS

one

month

o f

our



month record s. Spend this

temperat lng the air

did in Au ure Just like You

th

gust. Which

. e Warmest

day Was

th e Coldest? and wh lch Was

difference b. Calculate the

t Wo Your

ncuamtebnedrasre.

tawnedeWn rtihteesite

0

n

2. Check out Your I
pcIahnanr,t.nagnvd gu,.desPaanndtinsgtart TOUr Spnng garden!

Recipe: Fresh lettuce and herb salad with homemade ranch

INGREDIENTS:
1 head of lettuce from your <:,)arden. 1 small bunch of parsley, cilantro, or
other herbs <:,Jrowin<:,J in your <:,Jarden.
Y:! cup plain yo<:,Jurt.
2 tbsp fresh squeezed lemon. 1 tsp. mustard. Salt and pepper.

INSTRUCTIONS:
Rinse your herbs and lettuce, and set aside to dry. In a small bowl, mix to<:,Jether the yo<:,Jurt, lemon
and mustard. Add salt and pepper to taste. Chop the dry lettuce and herbs into bite sized
pieces, and place in a lar<:,Je salad bowl.
Pour Y:! the dressin9 over the salad and toss.
Serve salad with the extra dressin<:,J.

Division 2: 1st and 2nd Grade 2nd Place: Maya Frazier
The Museum School of Avondale Estates, Decatur, GA

26

27

28

29

30

31

GARDEN NOTES

Did you know? Seed savers are people that help preserve the genetic diversity of crops by
planting older, heirloom varieties. Some communities have "seed swaps" where the savers trade their seeds with other gardeners.

Dr. Arrow is concerned about endangered plants
and animals.

"
PLANT OF THE MONffiH
'.

I'm Old Man Spruce and I have been around a long time. My workers keep the air we need clean. You know that some garden plants, like broccoli, grow
best when the air is cool or even cold?

Have you ever eaten a flower before? If you've eaten broccoli you have! The broccoli crown that you eat is in fact a flower. Next time you have broccoli on your plate, look up close and see if you can spot the little flower buds!

GARDEN LOG

Take a Walk



't ;' e

or

backyaarrdou nd

Your

Schoof

~aorudernd,iFsFweirnegnt :~~aatnidoncsho(Foosreest,

ang an index c ' stream, etc.).

Vaseline in each ard covered With

At the end oF ea oF these sites.

the sites. Which ch Week visit

most partie/ card has the

ha s You

tthhienklehaasste?sto~nhtt.cthanlodcaWtihoinchdo

Record Your ob e cleanest air?

2. February seeds Fo mo r

servattons.

.
IS

a

g reat

time

radishes s .

t 0

Plant

re. Record th , Ptnach and

plant When

stheeedFsir~~

~eelidaatsesthtehadta~:su

eaves appe ar.

t
Division 3: 3rd and 4th Grade 2nd Place: Sydney Irons
Pine Log Elementary School, Rydal, GA

Recipe: Crispy, cheesy broccoli

INGREDIENTS:
2 heads of broccoli, chopped into small florets and stem pieces.
1 cup of shredded cheese of your choice (cheddar, mozzarella, parmesan, etc.).
Olive or vegetable oil. Salt and pepper.

INSTRUCTIONS:
Set a medium pan of water to boil with about 2 inches of water, meanwhile, heat the oven to 350F.
Once the water is boiling, put the broccoli in and steam with cover, just until the broccoli turns bright green. About 2 minutes (NO LONGER!!).
Drain the broccoli and drizzle with oil. Spread out on a baking sheet and cover w ith shredded cheese . Place in oven for 5-10 minutes or until cheese is melted and slightly
browned.

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY

FRIDAY

Did you know? Air pollutants, such as ozone produced by car exhaust, can dama~e or even kill leaves.

SATURDAY
1

Nickajack Elementary

2
Groundhog Day
9
16
23 1

3 10 17 24 1

4 11 18 25 1

5 12 19 26 1

6

7

8

Family Hike SBG
9:00am

13

14

15

Full Moon (6 :5 3 p m )

20

21

Arbor Day
in Georgia
I

27 1 28

22 I Oconee County 4-H
I
GARDEN NOTES

~ What kind of socks
do you need to plant broccoli?

~

~~~ ~ Garden hose!

In my soil department, workers are busy all year long, but especially in spring. Soils warm up and with the spring rains, cold-blooded animals like earthworms and mites get extra busy. Dig up
some soil and look carefully to see what is moving around.

Just like our sweet potatoes, you won't catch this ve~etable ~rowin~ above ~round! That's because you eat the root of the carrot plant! Its bri~ht oran~e color tells us that it is hi~h in vitamin A, which is ~ood for your eyesi~ht. Carrots taste ~ood steamed, raw, or roasted, and they are one of the few ve~etables that ~ets sweeter when you cook it!

Oli Earthworm and his friends di~ in the soil; they make air spaces for plant roots.

GARDEN LO

l ,_March

G :

mSoil

IS starts

th~ emonth

o warm

When

th e

easure the s ., . Gardeners

to know When ~~ temperature

Warm Weath o plant seeds f

.th e

Soil

tem

ee r

cr: ops.

Measureo

ar It each d pHrature and record

from the . ow does it c

of .

th e

monbtehg?inoning

to

th e

hange end

cntters in y . ld Yo.u find a

our soil?

ny

2. Create Your ow .

ho.w to make a cn compostl Learn

VISiting Your l"b ompost pile by

th e Your

Ibnateckrnyea~t dC1ornasrtyruocrt

search; one in ng

and start addin or Schoo/ site

scraps every da g Your Vegetable

and nutrif

y to create .

ga.rden! 1ous soil f.or Your nch

Division 4: 5th Grade 2nd Place: Anna Montgomery Mt. Vernon Elementary School
Gainesville, GA

Recipe: Carrot Sticks with Dip

INGREDIENTS:
1-2 lbs of carrots.
Your choice of Dips: ranch dressing, peanut butter, hummus, etc.

INSTRUCTIONS:
Cut carrots into long sticks.
Put out bowls of your kids favorite dips, and enjoy the fresh sweetness of carrots!

SUNDAY

MONDAY

Fact: Although most carrots are orange, some varieties are white, red, or even purple!

Youth Birding T-shirt Art Contest deadline- www.georgiawildlife.com/YBCtshirtArtContest Give Wildlife A Chance Poster Contest deadline - www.georgiawildlife.com/PosterContest

TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY

FRIDAY

@4 How do you know if carrots are good for your eyes?

~ Have you ever seen a ~ rabbit with glasses?

SATURDAY
1

21 31

9 1 10 1
Youth Birding T-shirt Art
Contest deadline

16 1
Full Moon
I 12:09pm

17 1
I

23 1 24 1

30 1 31 1

41 51 61 71 8
Family Hike SBG
9:00am
11 1 12 1 13 1 14 1 15

18 1
I

19 1 20 1
ISpring Equinox
(First Day of Spring)

211 22

25 1 26
Give Wildlife A Chance Poster Contest deadline
I

27

28

29

Environmental Education Alliance Conference at Rock Eagle (www.eealliance.org)

That's Amazing! Soils are full of life. A cup of soil can contain 50,000 arthropods, 20 million protozoans, and 200 billion bacteria!

BarneH Shoals Elementary
Murdock Elementary GARDEN NOTES

I'm G.B. Heron and I love to spend my time near the water. All livin~ thin~s are connected by water, so I think my department is the most important. Did you know that strawberries are 90% water? Dry a strawberry in the sun or
an oven, and see how little it wei~hs at the end.

This sweet treat from the garden is an all-time favorite! The berries start out white and ripen in the sun until they turn bright red. That's nature's way of telling us that the fruit is sweet and ready to eat! Grow your own strawberries in your garden or try picking your own at a berry farm . Make sure you pick extra
to put in the freezer to make them last all summer long!

GARDEN

1

gPalradceenaarnadm.

L 0 sau~e I.n

G.
)lour

amount oF record the

the rain storam for each of

the month Arms throughout p1ash.e bottle str.:alght-sided

taped to th With a ruler

egmoopdtygtahuge.e0Soind,et

makes Forget

a t

record the gauge after Yo o

e amount!

u

2. Your garde producin n should be Record Wghasot me tasty treats' harvesting You have been .
Your gardenand.eat'lng from this month.

Division 1: Kindergarten 3rd Place: Riley Mounger Pine Log Elementary, Rydal, GA

Recipe: Berry Fruit Salad

INGREDIENTS:
Strawberries. Other Berries. Plain or Vanilla Yogurt.

INSTRUCTIONS:
Wash and chop strawberries, drain and place in bowl. Add other berries or fruit.
Spoon into bowls and top with yogurt and a sprinkle of cinnamon ... a delicious, healthy dessert!

Division 2: 1st and 2nd Grade 3rd Place: Ann Catherine Walker
Tiftarea Academy, Chula, GA

SUNDAY

MONDAY

Fact: The strawberry is an unusual fruit - its' seeds are
on the outside!

DNR Youth Birdin9 Competition - www.9eOr9iawildlife.com/YouthBirdin9Competition

TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY

1

2

3

FRIDAY
4

SATURDAY
5

Cleveland Road Elementary

61 71 81

13
20 1
27

14 15
Full Moon (2:42am)
Total Eclipse
21 1 22 1
Earth Day I

28

29

91 16

10 1 17

11 1 12
Family Hike SBG
9:00am

18

19

National Garlic Day

23 1 24 1 DNR::~ Birding ~6 j

I

I \

Competition

__J I

30

Mr. Dipper Bird is concerned about the streams and waterways. Water covers over 75% of the Earth's surface and it is important to all
livin~ thin~s.

Russell Elementary GARDEN NOTES

Did you know? It's smart to think ahead. Rain barrels can help capture water to nurture your ~arden plants durin~ dry times.

Whatdidthe strawl:>erry say -
to the other strawl:>erry?

~ ~



~ -

~

lfyouweren'tso
sweet we would not be in thi~ jarnl

1..'..I IJ_ ',~i

~
_..:

I'm Sol, the Sun and I work hard every day. Your Qarden will Qrow best in briQht sun, but hot temperatures also dry out the soil. In the hot summer, apply mulch to the soil to keep roots moist and cool. You can even compare the temperature of the soil in areas
with and without mulch.

Peas come in many different varieties-some you can pop in your mouth with the shell on. Some you have to shell and eat peas that are inside. DurinQ the month watch for your plants' first flowers, that's how you know that peas are on the way! When they come, try eatinQ them right off the vine in the garden. They're sure to be sweet and crunchy!

1

~

.

Weather. factor forIS

a
n


Important

need the rTardening. Plants

sunlight nutrient's

ght
Wt ater.,

amounts heat, and

o f

healthy K o grow and s~

th . eep

'ay

IS months a record of

cloudy, rainy, ~eather (sunny,

and also the' dot, cool, etc./

Water Your ays that You

2

garden .

. Your garde .

dispfayin n Will start

at th. g a variet IS time of y of colors

the flowers a dYear With all
:ha~ its produ~i vegetables

egmning of ng. At the record all of ~ach Week

You see in he colors th t Your garden. a

Division 3: 3rd and 4th Grade 3rd Place: Ana belen Reyes Kingsley Elementary School, Dunwoody, GA

Recipe: Sugar Snap Peas with Sesame Dressing

INGREDIENTS:

INSTRUCTIONS:

lib sugar snap peas, trimmed. o 2 tbsp. rice vinegar. 1 tbsp. soy sauce. o 1 tbsp. sesame oil. 1 tbsp. brown sugar. 1 tsp. salt. ~ tsp. ground black pepper.

Place a medium sauce pan on the stove to boil.
When water is boiling, drop in the snap peas for 30 seconds, drain and rinse under cold water.
Mix all of the sauce ingredients in a bowl until blended, and pour over the peas in a dish.

Division 4: 5th Grade 3rd Place: Audrey Mixon Pine Log Elementary School, Rydal, GA

/r~f-..} -;;-;;Jlt

National Safe Boating Week - www.goboatgeorgia.com/boating

SUNDAY

MONDAY

What do vegetables wish for, more than anything else
in the whole world?

TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY
1
Peas on earth!

FRIDAY
2

SATURDAY
3

4

5

6

7

8

9 I 10 Family Hike

SBG, 9:00am

International
Migratory Bird Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

Full Moon
(2:16pm)

Endangered Species Day

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

State Botanical Garden of Georgia

(17th- 23rd)

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Free Fishing Day
(statewide)

GARDEN NOTES

Did you know? Early En9lish colonists sailin9 to America brou9ht dried peas with them as an essential food for the trip.

Attention K-5 Teachers!
The Georgia Department of Natural Resources, the State Botanical Garden of Georgia and The Environmental Resources Network, Inc. (T.E.R.N.) encourage you and your students to compete in the Twenty-fourth Annual Give Wildlife a Chance Poster Contest. This popular conservation art contest provides a unique opportunity for students to explore the wonders of Georgia's native plant and animal species through environmental artwork.

Native species are those that naturally occur in Georgia, unlike exotic species that were introduced from other places. They come in all shapes and sizes- from the large, moss-covered live oak tree of South Georgia (our State Tree) to the little grass frog, the smallest frog species in North America! There are approximately 3,600 species of nongame plants, 950 nongame vertebrate species and countless invertebrate species of nongame wildlife in Georgia. In fact, more than 95% of Georgia's vertebrate wildlife species are considered nongame!

Start with a Local Contest at Your School

While following the Poster Contest Rules and Guidelines, your students will depict artistic

drawings of their findings and will compete at the local level in a school-wide poster contest. First-,

second-, and third-place winners will be chosen from your school's entries for the local level contest

at your school. All participating students can receive place award ribbons and a Give Wildlife a

Chance certificate. Participating schools will then choose one first place winner from each division

and mail the winning entries to The State Botanical Garden of Georgia to compete in the state-level

contest. These entries will be comprised of four division categories described in the

' l Poster Contest Rules and Guidelines section. Four state level winners ~ be ill
chosen and presented awards after competition judging takes place.

Poster Contest Rules and Guidelines

',;ft,.

Sponsorship and Judging The Twenty-fourth Annual Give Wildlife a Chance Poster Contest is

{ _
~- ~~

sponsored by The Georgia Department of Natural Resources, The State

Botanical of Georgia and The Environmental Resources Network, Inc. (T.E.R.N.). The theme changes

yearly, though the contest is an ongoing educational effort to help children and teachers gain

awareness of Georgia's native plants and animals. Artists, as well as wildlife and plant professionals,

judge the contest entries based on artistic interpretation, originality, visual impact, and contest

theme.

Eligibility

The contest is open to individual students (no group drawings) in Kindergarten through 5'h grades.

Home school groups, public schools, and private schools are encouraged to participate.

Schools/groups may enter one poster from any or all divisions:

Division 1: Kindergarten

Division 3: Third and Fourth Grades

Division 2: First and Second Grades Division 4: Fihh Grade

Each school/group may enter no more than a total of four posters to the state level contest (one per division).

Size and Format
Outside dimensions cannot exceed 17" x 22" (vertically or horizontally)
Collages and other three-dimensional artwork are not suitable for this contest.
Please DO NOT use glue or staples, tag-board or on white art paper (no matting).
DO NOT FOLD. Submit art flat in a package or roll into a mailing tube.
If you want the students' entries returned, you MUST include exact postage.
Contest Rules
1. While following the Poster Contest Rules and Guidelines, instruct your students to depict artistic drawings of their findings and arrange for a local competition at your school.
2. Each entry must depict at least one native, nongame plant and animal of Georgia.
3. First-, second-, and third-place winners should be chosen at the local level (refer to Contest Awards section).
4. All participating students can receive place award ribbons and a Give Wildlife a Chance certificate.
5. Only ONE school-wide winner from each division can be chosen to compete in the state level contest at The State Botanical Garden (refer to Eligibility section). State level entries are normally the artwork of the first-place school winners.
6. All contest entries must adhere to the contest theme check http://georgiawildlife.com/ PosterContest and www.uga.edu/botgarden , for this year's theme.
7. Avoid the use of game species (*those legally hunted or fished) such as deer, turkey, raccoon, bobcat, squirrel, and Canada geese.
8. Do not include pictures of exotic zoo animals.
9. Do not include people as the main focus.
10. Please briefly describe the species depicted on the Poster Contest Entry Form.

For additional information and Entry Forms, please visit these websites: http://georgiawildlife.com/PosterContest and www.uga.edu/botgarden

Or contact: Linda May 706-557-3226 or Cora Keber 706-542-6156

Linda.May@dnr.state.ga.us

ckeber@uga.edu

,._...111'1 I&P'ffttfi&Ml filii:
Encouraging Scientific Study with In-School and After-School Partnerships
Our home, our Garden Earth, is a treasure. Its ecosystems can provide valuable ecological services such as pollinati on, air and water purification, climate control, soil production, recycling, pest and disease control, food production, and a genetic library.These "free services" can be impacted by human activity and impaired by poor societal choices.

Garden Earth Naturalists supports teachers and 4-H agents in extending science instruction through after-school clubs.
Garden Earth Naturalists (GEN) helps children (grades K-5) understand the importance of these free services by studying, exploring and enhancing natural habitats on their school sites and in their surrounding communities.
Guiding questions for investigation include:
0 What is the status of Earth's life support functions on your after-school
site?
0 How can you investigate the life support functions on your site
or in your community?
0 How can you improve or restore the life support functions on
your site or in your community?
To learn about Pollination, children can perform these activities: Suga's 5 Bees Puppet Show Pollination Game Pollination Relay Race Flower Inquiry: I wonder/ ID
of flora I parts Insect Count and Flower Observation
Garden Earth Naturalists helps children understand earth's ecosystems, value the services provided by these ecosystems, and take positive actions through stewardship and service learning projects to protect these ecosystems.

What club leaders say about GEN:
"Here at Fowler Drive we have had as many as 33 on the roster at a time. / still have a waiting list and students ask me every day if they can get in "science club." .... It's great to see students and teachers having "fun" doing science." (Halley Page, Fowler Drive Elementary, Clarke County)

"The training program has been great and a lot of fun! We

participated in many of the hands-on activities just the way we

would do them with the children at our school clubs. I was truly

excited to be selected as a pilot instructor of the GEN program."

t

Susan Goldman, Madison County Extension Agent

How can you or your school join the Garden Earth Naturalists?
A workshop, with sustained contact, will train and support teachers and paraprofessionals to implement GEN science clubs at schools. The workshop will be offered at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia in Athens, with follow-up at the participating schools. Participating schools receive a kit with supplies to implement the GEN activities. Participating teachers will receive a manual with all the GEN activities and can receive 3 PLU credits.

For more information about Garden Earth Naturalists contact:
0 Dr. Carol A. Hoffman, Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, 706-542-6015 hoffman@uga.edu
t: Ms. Anne Shenk, Director of Education
State Botanical Ga rden of Georgia, Un iv. of Georgia, 706-542-6158 ashenk@uga.edu

Division 1: Kindergarten (August) 1'' Place: Ryan O'Connor St. Joseph Catholic Parish Athens, GA Sea Turtle

Division 1: Kindergarten (December) 2"d Place: Clara Kropp
The Museum School of Avondale Estate Decatur, GA
Butterfly Life Cycle

Division 1: Kindergarten (April) 3'd Place: Riley Mounger Pine Log Elementary Rydal, GA
Corn Snake, Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake

Division 2: 1" and 2"d Grade (September) 1" Place: Andrew Edwards Pike Primary School Zebulon, GA
Summer Tanager and Live Oak Tree

Division 2: 1'' and 2"d Grade (January) 2"d Place: Maya Frazier
The Museum School of Avondale Estates Decatur, GA
ivory-billed Woodpecker

Division 2: 1" and 2"d Grade (April) 3'd Place: Ann Catherine Walker Tiftarea Academy Chula, GA Coastal Scene

~

Division 3: 3'd and 4'h Grade (October) 1'' Place: Cameron Rogers Ephesus Elementary School Roopville, GA Great Egret

Division 3: 3'd and 4'h Grade (February) 2"d Place: Sydney Irons
Pine Log Elementary School Rydal, GA
Little Grass Frog

Division 3: 3'd and 4'h Grade (May) 3'd Place: Anabelen Reyes Kingsley Elementary School Dunwoody, GA
Red-tailed Hawk and Red Maple
I

Division 4: S'h Grade (November) 1" Place: Caroline Jones
Central Hatchee Elementary School Franklin, GA
Blackbanded Sunfish (Enneacanthus chaetodon)

Division 4: S'h Grade (March) 2"d Place: Anna Montgomery Mt. Vernon Elementary School
Gainesville, GA Gopher Tortoise

ll.l>
Division 4: S'h Grade (May) 3'd Place: Audrey Mixon
Pine Log Elementary School Rydal, GA
Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Give Wildlife a Chance Poster Contest Partners
Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division, Nongame Conservation Section
The State Botanical Garden of Georgia The Environmental Resources Network, Inc. (T.E.R.N.)

..f. >~~---. ~....~...

I ---- ~
~~ f

~- -~ ~ . -"-.'

~ ~~-

Garden Earth Naturalist Partners
The State Botanical Garden of Georgia Odum School of Ecology Georgia 4-H

Calendar Credits Project Manager: Anne Shenk
Text: Carol Hoffman Instructor, Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia Andie Bisceglia Education Specialist, State Botanical Garden of Georgia
Anne Shenk Director of Education, State Botanical Garden ofGeorgia Michaela D'Aquanni-Swift Russell Elementary School, Cobb County Cora Keber Education Coordinator, State Botanical Garden of Georgia
Artwork/Design/Layout: Sam Pittard and William Reeves
Many Thanks to our Sponsors
Jackson EMC The Environmental Resources Network, Inc (T.E.R.N.)
The Teacher Quality Higher Education Program Earth Share

Erth!~,. I ~QQBQ!,1 r-Jc\11!!/f}~ -~ .

JJym~

-

OF GEORGIA

EB Odum School
~ - ~L~~9o~~gy

~
~IE.R.N.
F< l e n c l o t G . o r g ! " N o n p , . c o n. .,.....rions-.;:tlon

Copyright 2013 University of Georgia