Lettuce leaves are eaten raw in salads or on sandwiches. Some people even like to use lettuce leaves as an alternative to a tortilla shell for tacos! Once the lettuce “bolts,” or grows tall, it doesn’t taste good but you can save the seeds.
Plants
Plant choices will vary by school based on local factors like garden size and placement, soil type, and frequency of plant-munching fauna like deer and raccoons! In a typical year, each school will have a selection of the plants listed below.
Nasturtium
Onion
The bulbs of onions are eaten raw or cooked in many different dishes. They are a standard ingredient in many cooks’ kitchens!
Parsley
Parsley is used as an herb and is popular across a variety of cuisines, and is especially common in Italian cooking. It comes in varieties ranging from flat leaf to curly.
Peppers
Peppers, like onions, are very common both raw and cooked. Many dishes from many cultures use the many varieties of sweet and spicy peppers now available around the world. Peppers can range from sweet to spicy enough to be the main ingredient in bear spray!
Potatoes
Potatoes are eaten cooked and are used in many different ways. They can be eaten peeled or not, and are yummy when roasted, boiled and mashed, or cut into strips and fried.
Pumpkin
The “meat” of the pumpkin is cooked before eaten. Pumpkin is used in both sweet and savory dishes – everything from pies to soups! The seeds can also be roasted and eaten for a healthy snack. The orange pumpkins that we are familiar with for jack-o-lanterns are just one of the many colors and shapes… Read more »
Radish
Radish roots are eaten raw and are a common colorful addition to salads, or as a pretty garnish on a plate. One popular use is as an addition to avocado toast. The leaves can also be eaten in salad. Radishes became an important part of Colorado agriculture because they grow in cooler temperatures and are… Read more »
Sage
Sage is an herb with a strong smell and distinctive taste. Likely to its heartiness in cold temperatures, it is a flavor often associated with traditional fall dishes.
Sunflowers
Roasted sunflower seeds are a favorite snack of both humans and the critters that live in and around our gardens! Sunflower seeds are sometimes used as an alternative to nuts and sunflower butter is a popular substitute for peanut butter in kids’ lunches.