The elementary schoolers helped us to finish cutting our seed potatoes today. Because each eye has the ability to grow a new plant, we can grow a number of potato plants from each potato and therefore cut each seed potato into multiple pieces, each of which will be planted twelve inches apart in furrows dug by Sal. We order seed potatoes from FEDCO Moose Tubers, which features many varieties bred in Maine. Varieties that we will grow this year include: Natascha, Yukon Gem, Elba, Katahdin, Carola, and Red Maria.
Participants from all of Chewonki’s on-campus programs will help with the potato process: elementary schoolers and Maine Coast Semester students cut the seed potatoes, students from Cape Elizabeth Middle School will plant them next week during their Outdoor Classroom encampment, and campers this summer and semester students this fall will harvest the bounty.
