Commissioner Lourdes Leon joined students and faculty from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. School No. 52 on their multicultural day for another day of planting!
On today’s agenda…cucumbers!
What type of vitamins do cucumber supply humans with?
Just one cucumber contains Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B6, Folic Acid, Vitamin C, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium and Zinc.
Union County Vice Chairwoman Kimberly Palmieri-Mouded attended the Kids Dig In Planting at the Arthur L. Johnson High School in Clark!
The school was awarded a Raised Bed Garden. We thank the principal and teachers for applying to our garden grant program for the first time this year!
Sherman Elementary s one of many schools growing watermelons!
Did you know that seedless watermelons aren’t genetically modified? They’re actually a hybrid watermelon created by crossing a watermelon with 22 chromosomes with a watermelon with 44 chromosomes.
The Gateway Family YMCA of Rahway and Groundwork Elizabeth have planted butternut squash!
Fun Fact: When planting butternut squash, it is important to have a large area for cultivation as the vines can grow up to 15 feet in length! In addition, studies have found that butternut squash can be beneficial for one’s lung health as it can reduce the risk of lung cancer.
Students from Battin Annex School No. 4 were joined by none other than Commissioner Lourdes Leon and Maria Carvalho to plant something very special… watermelon!
Go Battin Pups!
Trivia: When is National Watermelon Day 2023?
National Watermelon Day is August 3rd, 2023!
Fun Fact: Watermelon is 92% water.
Members of the Roselle Community Garden alongside Council President Joseph Signorello Jr., First Ward Councilman Gregory Johnson, Fourth Ward Councilman Khanjan Patel, and Fifth Ward Councilman Jay Robaina have welcomed a variety of different plants to their borough!
One of those plants were none other than collards. Did you know that collards are an excellent source of vitamin? Collards provide us with vitamin K, vitamin A, manganese, vitamin C, calcium, vitamin E, vitamin B6, iron, and omega-3 fatty acids.
Students and faculty from JVJ Stem Academy were joined by Chairman Granados to kick off their summer planting season!
Since the opening of JVJ STEM Academy in 2022, the faculty and students have participated in our Plant a Seed Kids Dig In Program. One of eight Elizabeth High schools, JVJ Stem Academy specializes in preparing students for successful entry into STEM-related postsecondary studies and career paths.
Fun Fact: JVJ STEM Academy is among 30 schools across the U.S., and the only school from the Northeast Region, to be recognized as a 2022-2023 US Microsoft Incubator School!
With the help from Groundwork Elizabeth, students from Winfield Scott School No. 2 in Elizabeth planted cherry tomatoes and basil in their very own Earth Box Gardens!
Did you know Basil can help lower blood pressure and help alleviate anxiety? With fresh basil you can also add freshness to pastas, pizza, and just about anything!
Chairman Granados and students from Dr. Antonia Pantoja School No.27 have planted their very own cucamelons!
Cucamelons are native to Mexico and are part of the cucumber family. They even taste like a sour cucumber with a dash of lime. Due to the fact that they look like mini watermelons, they are called sandiita in Mexico and Central America.
Fun Fact: Cucamelons are known by different names. Some of these aliases are creeping cucumber, Guadeloupe cucumber, Mexican miniature watermelon, Mexican sour cucumber, Mexican sour gherkin, mouse melon, and pepquinos.
Union County Vice Chairwoman Kimberly Palmieri-Mouded joined faculty from Crossroads School in Westfield to kickoff their summer planting season!
Fun Fact: Crossroads School is an innovative school that educates students between the ages f 3-14 and is committed to helping students reach their fullest potential through rigorous instruction, community-based field experience, and collaborative approach. Some of the services Crossroads School provides students with include occupational Therapy, Speech-Language Pathology, Behavior Analytic Services, Special Educators, and Social-Emotional Learning coaches.
