gardens

                                         

Riverwood House, Studio & Gardens is making the efforts to follow Alice Waters', Principles of an Edible Education. The principles are as follows as derived from her book, Edible Schoolyard: A Universal Idea [2008]:

*Food is an academic subject

*School provides lunch for every child

*Schools support farms

*Children learn by doing

*Beauty is a language

 

 
Outdoor Gardens:
South Sun Garden
North Vegetable Garden
Greens Garden

herbs:

White sage

Italian leaf parsley

Dill

English lavender

Marjoram

Rosemary

Thyme

Basil, Italian large leaf Ocimum basilicum
Cilantro, Santo Coriandrum sativum
Oregano

greens:

Arugula

Kale
Lettuce, black seeded Simpson

Mixed variety
Swiss chard, five color silverbeet Beta vulgaris [Cicla group]

vegetable/fruits:

Tomatoes

Hot peppers/bell peppers

pickling Cucumber

Snow peas, Oregon sugar pod Pisum sativum

watermelon

Beets
variety of Carrots
french breakfast radishes

 

flowers:

Zinnia

Echinacea

Variety of wildflowers

Sunflowers
Buddleia

Indoor Garden:

Variety of window herbs

a variety of "houseplants"including succulents and cacti

*In our attempts at following the seasons, Riverwood House follows fruits and vegetables that are in season. Due to Nashville's climate and our progressive gardens, we buy locally as much as possible. Currently, we are participating with Avalon Acres CSA. We are looking forward to fall plantings including kale, arugula, peas, radishes, chard, carrots and beets.

Composting sites:
we have indoor and outdoor composting sites! The children have a bucket located under the dishwashing acitvity for organic material leftover from snack, lunch preparation, and lunch. The kitchen has a bucket near the sink for all organic matter from the kitchen.

There are several formal and informal compost sites outdoors. The children are accustom to the formal compost bin, which is black and has vents and small doors on all sides. This site is used mainly for the kitchen and leftover organic matter. Then there are the informal sites that consist of dead leaves and dead plant matter swept and shoveled into a mound. These mounds are located in different areas and dispersed in many of the plant beds. We look forward to growing pumpkins and melons from these informal sites and sometimes we get several saplings such as avocado and citrus fruits!