As I drive to the grocery store, I pass a school with an outdoor classroom and learning garden. I have often been envious of the space and considered how lucky they are to have it. A few years ago, the school principal contacted the Extension Office asking for help from the Master Gardeners. Despite having an amazing resource, only one (yes, one) teacher uses the space. An incredible resource left fallow and neglected by most of the staff. How can this happen? What went wrong? Why aren’t they using it?
Gardening
Gardening makes me happy, especially when I am gardening with my three girls, as seen in the picture below. The benefits of a garden are undeniable.
April 9, 2012 Read more
After a week of rain, progress on Benton’s Backyard outdoor classroom and learning garden can be seen. Sunburnt and covered in dirt, a few hard working dads framed up the sidewalks, shed floor, pergola floor and mow strips in preparation for concrete to be poured. Our students returned from spring break to witness all of the changes.
Back in September of 2010, I started a new journey with my local elementary school, and now I would like you to join me on this journey, as I create a series of blogs that describes how a school and its community built an outdoor classroom and learning garden in 2012.
A simple PVC pipe light stand is a relatively inexpensive way to construct an effective plant stand. I bought all of the supplies for $39.15 and it took me about 20 minutes to cut the PVC and assemble the light stand (that with a toddler sitting on my lap).
March 5, 2012 Read more
I ran into our local farm and home store to buy a bag of dog food for our well-fed overweight, four legged family member. To my delight, there was a large display of seed potatoes, onion sets, garlic, seeds, soil, garden hoses, starter fertilizer, etc. Gardening season is quickly approaching in my zone!
February 28, 2012 Read more
As a whole, children today know less and less about where their food comes from and what it takes to get food on the table. Here is a comprehensive book list about agriculture, gardening, and everything in between.
February 23, 2012 Read more
My daughter wanted to plant a banana tree in our backyard. She’s brilliant; think of the money I would save!
My glass-encased little world instantly filled my garden-less void. When I am on an endless conference call or the magazine deadline is in thirty minutes while I can’t remember my password for my e-mail, it is so nice to peer into my little garden. Now if I could just find a miniature gnome statue or perhaps a mini-pink flamingo…
Do you remember last spring when the daffodils and tulips made you smile?