I have been going to school every so often to water, add some diatomaceous earth and plant another corn crop to ensure a long harvest. I haven't run into any parents watering, but I misy assume they come t... more »

I have been going to school every so often to water, add some diatomaceous earth and plant another corn crop to ensure a long harvest. I haven't run into any parents watering, but I misy assume they come to water as everything is still living and there is not so many zucchinis from many plants. It seems they are being picked.
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I could talk all day about how we could improve schools and learning. Outdoor learning is the best way to grab the attention of the young, inquisitive mind. The politicians who control the money are all ab... more »

I could talk all day about how we could improve schools and learning. Outdoor learning is the best way to grab the attention of the young, inquisitive mind. The politicians who control the money are all about standardized testing, filling in bubbles and teaching to the test. That is our reality. To get education to where it should be we need a movement akin to the Civil Rights Movement, we need a revolution, with a person like Martin Luther King Jr. or Cesar Chavez to spearhead it. Until that happens, politicians who have little or no background in education, the learning process or child development will be calling all the shots. They serve only the textbook companies who stand to make billions then send millions to the politicians.
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Odd how the two things that mean the most to us, our children and the food we eat, is managed by political BS!  I too, could carry on for hours, and wish I had been more voiceful in the past... more »

Odd how the two things that mean the most to us, our children and the food we eat, is managed by political BS!  I too, could carry on for hours, and wish I had been more voiceful in the past.  It is very hard to watch what is going on in the world.  Money doesn't make the world go round.... Money makes the world go "DOWN".  And we are sinking fast! (less)

I asked all the kids to ask their parents who would like to water during the summer. I made it clear that they get to pick and take home all the veggies. One from my class was all I could get. The other pa... more »

I asked all the kids to ask their parents who would like to water during the summer. I made it clear that they get to pick and take home all the veggies. One from my class was all I could get. The other parent has been helping me since her son was in my class 8 yrs ago, then I had two younger siblings in my class in following years. The other helper is a grandfather of a child in another class who is a sub custodian for our district and whenever he's not on the clock, he is at our school helping out.
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Of course we planted more so most of the plots would contain veggies. Right now the plums are about ready and we are getting some zucchinis as well. We also have lots of onions (about 6 kinds) that are abo... more »

Of course we planted more so most of the plots would contain veggies. Right now the plums are about ready and we are getting some zucchinis as well. We also have lots of onions (about 6 kinds) that are about ready. I lost count, but we have over 40 kinds of heirloom vegetables. I think I made a list of plantings in an earlier entry. Since then we planted more of the same and over a dozen more different vegetables as well. I have been going in daily to make sure the parents have been watering as our temps have been kinds high, over 90 for a few days and near 100 yesterday. Did I say thanks to Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds for donating so many seeds to my school garden? See them at rareseeds.com for the best selection.
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Tomatoes:
Thessaloniki
Barnes Mtn. Yellow
Pantano Romanesco
Cherokee purple
Amana orange

Tomatillo verde

Chilis (store bought seedlings, I have so much trouble germinating these)
Manzano orange
Ancho pablano
Haboñero
Jalepeño
Serrano

 

Cucumbers:

Dib daub
Fegouzvert Clair
Marketmore 76
Japanese long

The corn patch was seeded today with:
Country gentleman white sweet corn

With 3 kinds of pole beans to climb the corn:
Purple podded
Long bean Chinese mosaic
Chinese red noodle bean

We also planted many of the above cukes, squash and melons in between the rows just as the natives did so many years ago.

 

Bush beans:
Blue lake bush 74
Bean Beurre de Rocquencourt

Sunflowers:

Teddy bear
Mexican torch
Lemon queen

Tomatoes: these are varieties I have seedlings for sale with about a dozen more expected to be available in the next few weeks.
Barnes Mtn yellow
Delicious
Amana orange
Cherokee purple
Rutgers
TC Jones
Beefsteak
Pantano Romanesco
Black prince
Purple calabash
Pink ping pong
NZ pink pear
Thessaloniki

 

WOW, is all I can say…I have sickness, a passion, a labor of love. I spend so much time in the garden with my students and love every minute of it. The above time spent does not include the California native landscape habitat garden we tend to at out school which is quite extensive, about 34000 sq ft.

 

Then, when the day is done, I go home to my own garden and continue on with the more of the same. I will only focus this webpage on the school garden….to much to write about both of them.

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Sadly your posts, on my screen, look a bit jumbled.  The first half is all font type information and your actual post is at the end.  Strange, never saw this before.

I collect about 7 or 8 larva every year from a place I hike at (I also get several for my wife to rear out with here 1st grade class) and we rear them out. Some are only a few mm long when I collect them. ... more »

I collect about 7 or 8 larva every year from a place I hike at (I also get several for my wife to rear out with here 1st grade class) and we rear them out. Some are only a few mm long when I collect them. Once they go transparent I put it on a student's desk and he or she announces when it emerges and we all watch it unfold. I then pick a lucky students who gently guides the new monarch onto their finger then outside on a plant where we watch it dry until the sun warms it enough to take its first flight. Truly an amazing experience. My wife is way more elaborate with journal writing and donning her own set of wings for a release ceremony and more.

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How wonderful.  It is truly a grand experience for the children to remember for the rest of their lives.  It is my understanding that Washington cannot do this anymo... more »

How wonderful.  It is truly a grand experience for the children to remember for the rest of their lives.  It is my understanding that Washington cannot do this anymore because the food the monarch needs is not usually present here ... so they are destined to die.  Kinda sad, but we do have plenty of butterflies that do live here. (less)