SENTINEL SANCTUARY GARDEN
Freedom Classical Academy believes in getting your hands dirty once in a while. To help our scholars learn various scientific principles and also develop a love for gardening, we have created a garden and orchard area in our rear field and dedicated a garden box to each grade level for their use. Additionally, classrooms have access to hydroponics kits through GreenOurPlanet and Tower Garden. This page is dedicated to showing off our garden and what our scholars are growing.
Planter Box Assignments
Ancient Technologies
Shou Sugi Ban
This 18th century Japanese wood preservation technique involves charring the outer layer of the wood to create a durable layer of carbon that naturally resists rot, pests, UV, and fire. It was used on the wooden trellis supports to help the wood stand up to the weather while avoiding any toxic chemicals that could potentially leach into the vegetables being grown in the garden.
FCA student Beau Christensen, pictured, helped burn the boards under close adult supervision.
Olla (Oy-yah) Pots
Ollas, spanish for "pot," have been used in numerous civilizations for hundreds of years. Simple, unglazed terra cotta pots are buried near plants and filled with water. The semi-porous nature of the terra cotta allows water to escape into the soil through the capillary effect providing on-demand watering to the plants around it. Though an ancient technology, this form of watering uses up to 90% less water than other methods by helping avoid evaporation and delivering water to the roots where it is most needed.
Though only the top of the Olla can be seen in this picture, the pot extends nearly 15 inches into the ground and holds nearly 2 gallons of water. Since water is only pulled from the Olla when needed, over-watering of plants is eliminated.
Garden Resources
