Garden Blog

Amazing Grace

2010-08-26T13:02:00.000-07:00

After blogging about the heat earlier this week, Wednesday turned cloudy and much cooler. This morning (Thursday) I stepped outside before sunrise, and I actually felt cool and much revived. I could breath the cool drier air without wanting to rush back in to the A/C. Could we please have an early long fall season?

This last week we started by discussing the needs of living organisms. Air, water, food, and shelter were discussed. I then brought out seedlings of cabbage and broccoli that had been started earlier in small cells of plastic flats. Some cells had one seedling, others had three, four and more. We discussed whether these plants could stay in these small areas and continue to live and thrive. This lead to a discussion of space. How much space do different organisms need? We talked about different plants and animals. Trees need more room than small flowering plants such as cosmos. Bears need more room to hunt that smaller animals such as rats. We talked about humans and how much space we need. Homes, schools, churches, offices, shopping centers, factories, recreation centers, parks, and all the roads, rail lines and airspace that link them. But the most space needed by humans was to grow the food we eat. We concluded that humans needed a lot more space than most animals.

Back to our seedlings. We decided they needed more room to grow. The weather is not quite right to put them in the ground, so we decided to transplant them into larger cells, or pots until we could put them in the garden beds. This would also allow us more time to harvest peas, okra, and peppers.

While collecting our weather data we made observations of life on the vegetables and wildflowers. There were some okra plants covered with aphids and predators eating them. Predators such as ladybeetles and their larva, mealybug destroyer larva, and green lacewing larva were trying their best to eat them all. Of course, we know they can't. Some need to be left for future generations. Leaf-footed bugs were all over the peas and a plant called lizardtailed gaura. They do harm the peas but seem only to hide in the gaura. They and their cousins, the stink bugs are some of the worst pests in the garden. They dine on okra, peas, peppers, tomatoes, and almost any fruit.

While watching wasps hovering around the chard, we found what they were looking for -small, yet unidentified caterpillars. They weren't finding enough of them, because the chard was riddled with holes. We started cutting back the chard, hoping for some new growth. We'll keep a better eye out for the caterpillars on them and on our new cabbage and broccoli. We lost a couple of wasps nests because they were found too close to places where students walk. They were sprayed with a soap and orange oil spray. We will now have to take on more of their role as caterpillar destroyers.

There are plenty of butterflies in the garden - larva and adults of pipevine swallowtails, along with tigerswallowtails, queens, and Gulf fritillaries. At least one Monarch has been observed.

Hummingbirds are fighting for control of the Turk's cap, honeysuckle, and flame acantha.

As the year progresses, we will observe changes that occur to our vegetables and wildflowers as the seasons and weather change. What new life will we find interacting with these plants?
(photo: Barbara Uskovich)

Return

2010-08-23T13:41:00.000-07:00

We're back at school and everyone seems happy to be back. We are inside for the most part the next couple of weeks discussing what a scientist is and what scientists study in gardens. It's a good thing, because it is hotter this August than any I can remember. Only one day so far has been under 100 degrees. Life goes on outside even though we who are spoiled by a/c can't imagine living constantly in the heat. We are adapting to the heat technologically, not biologically. Unfortunately we may be making the outside even hotter with our technology.

With the addition of a little water over the summer we have kept wildflowers and vegetables alive and growing. We did have some rain in July which was unusual,then came August with its triple digits. The blackeyed peas and purple hull peas aren't producing too well in this heat, but the okra is thriving. Peppers and tomatoes are hanging on waiting for cooler weather to start setting more fruit.

We have started cabbage, broccoli, and pok choy from seed under shade cloth and now we can get the students out to look after them. They will stay in pots until late September, early October when the weather cools, and the fall rains come.Then we can take out the peas and put the cabbage and broccoli in the ground. Spinach, beets, carrots, and lettuce can all go in also. We will brainstorm with the kids to decide what variables to test in the growing of the fall crops.

I plan to emphasize the concept of home or "ecos" this year. Students should leave Stonewall well aware that there are many other living creatures in the world that need a home. How we humans satisfy our needs affects many others. I have read that extinction of species is proceeding faster now that ever before. Will this dimenish our quality of life? Do we need these lost species for our own survival?

No, we can't answer these questions, but our students can become more sensitive to other life on this planet. Maybe learning empathy toward other organisms will also help us get along with each other. If this is all our students learn, they will be far ahead of the rest.

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Circles

2010-06-22T18:54:00.000-07:00

As part of their primary education children learn about geometric shapes. The circle being the easiest because it is easily applied to handwriting, art, and math. It is rather curious that regardless of the activity, people move into this most comfortable shape. A circle can be defined as a group of people bound together by a common interest, activity, or achievement.
Our school garden encompasses this definition. Eventually the students form large or small circles to share their discoveries or joys.
One of this year's achievements in first grade was the hatching of 10 Cayuga ducks. Honestly we could not tell them apart except for Wilbur. He was the runt and became our favorite, yet the students constantly debated the characteristics of the group. We created special journals just to document their activity. Once again journaling became important and individual styles rejoiced.
Such unique activities promote writing, vocabulary, and critical thinking. The children were able to focus for amazing amounts of time just predicting behavior. Innovative education will lead to greater results than just textbook applications. Children that have opportunities to have multi-sensory experiences achieve higher results.
Our experience with nature up close moved this class closer than ever to being stewards of our natural world.
Barbara Uskovich
(photos: Barbara Uskovich)

Journaling/Documenting

2010-06-22T17:49:00.000-07:00

When the garden first began, and up until a few years ago, the documenting of data collection was a rote activity. Students from all classes were required to gather ground/air temperature, identification of clouds, plant growth, checking rain gauges, and any insect activity.
Not only have the students evolved with their journals, as well as with the growth of our garden, the educators as well. Student excitement elicits innovations that are curated by their teachers. Over the last few years teachers and their students have promoted individual styles of documentation. Students now have less restrictions on their movements in the garden, but higher expectations with their journals because as a community we are learning and evolving together.
My personal expectations, because of daily visits, have included time of day, personal feelings, illustrations from three different view points, and the willingness of getting dirty to achieve the ultimate observations.
Evolution can be inspiring: we have ripped lids off water boxes to find the largest and slimiest slugs, laid flat on our stomachs to see the petals of legumes up close, and relaxed wearing cowboy hats while lounging on a boulder under a cedar tree to record our personal views.
Students have come to trust their natural instincts and know that they will not be criticized for personal views, but that their journals will be the model. What a proud moment for all naturalist.
Barbara Uskovich
(photos: Barbara Uskovich)

Reproduction and Harvest

2010-05-18T10:29:00.000-07:00

For the last few weeks we have been watching flowers bloom and mature. In the process we have come across many creatures in and above ground, mating, laying eggs, incubating eggs, completing life cycles.

The chickens and ducks that were hatched in the classrooms are now in the chicken coop and (in my laundry room) growing and eating all the delectables insects and grasses the students can bring to them. We've found the chickens really love waterbugs(roaches), grubs(larva of beetles), and worms.

Mrs. Uskovich's class hatched ducks. Some of them didn't hatch. After most hatched she waited a little longer and decided the ones remaining weren't going to make it. This presented an opportunity to explore the interior of a developing duck egg. We opened the eggs and found baby ducks in arrested developement. A few were farther developed than others, but something inside them was wrong and they stopped growing, and died. It was sad to see life ended, but it was also interesting to see developmental stages of the growth inside the egg.

We have been beseiged by potato and cucumber beetles. Both are pests, but attack the plants differently. The potato beetle larva seem to be the most aggressive in eating leaves of potatoes. The adults also eat leaves, but seem to spend most of their time mating and laying eggs. The cucumber beetles eat the leaves and spread diseases. The cucumber beetles are hard to catch as they fly the second you go after them. The potato beetles are easier to catch. They move slowly, preferring to drop to the ground and play dead. Some teachers are taking them into their classroom to observe their behavior there. We are catching more everyday.

We have found crab spiders on coreopsis, and a female with an egg case wrapped in a potato leaf. She really didn't like us prying into the leaf to observe her with our USB camera. She is now residing in a plasic container with her eggs. We hope they hatch soon.
(photos: Barbara Uskovich)

Visitors

2010-05-04T19:49:00.000-07:00

visitor, noun, 14th century
-a person who pays a visit; caller, guest, tourist, ect.
-one that visits; especially: one that makes visits of inspection
Just spend five minutes in our garden and you will greet many a guest. Our guest may include those that will stay until October (plants), those that say hello for twenty or so minutes (insects), and those visitors (children) that will have memories that remain with them forever with visions that can not be described.
The bluebonnets are just fading, yet their children (seed pods) will revisit us next spring. The larkspur, Indian Blanket, blue flax, echinacea, and too many to mention will stay until it is time to sleep. The Cabbage White, hairstreak, and Admiral pass through with a brief thank you for providing such beauty.
Our posterity depends on the visits of the children of Stonewall. It is they, these visitors, that will reap our gift for generations. As they silently stroll the pathways, their observations are the ones that enlighten the host. I for one, could listen endlessly to their voices of expertise. It is they that notice the number of petals on the Engelmann daisy, it is they that observe a crab spider on the evening primrose, and it is they that will chase roaches from the compost pile to feed the chickens with squeals of delight. These are opportunities that must be enjoyed and then shared. These are the conversations that we share with the adults that come to inspect and replicate our incredible canvas, Stonewall Gardens.
I observe with wonder and excitement at this opportunity for our future. These young visitors have only a healthy fear. They accept the adventures of nature and revel in cognitive enlightenment. It is our home, Stonewall Gardens, that allows any visitor to relish in its wonder. This wonder will hopefully, in time, prove the visions of the elders that said, "Yes, the world is good".
Barbara Uskovich, 1C
(garden provided by: Mark N. Painter)
(photos: Barbara Uskovich)

A Peep At the Coops

2010-04-20T17:58:00.000-07:00

Mr. Pittillo has had a dream for many years, or should I say decades? He has been the force behind the poultry craze at Stonewall. His enthusiasm with hatching anything from chickens to quail has extended the Stonewall curriculum beyond the extraordinary. Classrooms count down the days until the babies are born and names are heavily debated/voted for catchy names such as Mrs. Fletcher and Ebenezer. Fortunately the chicken coop craze has hit one and many, including Stonewall. Thankfully our past PTA president, Bob Richie had already discovered the chicken craze and introduced us to his neighbor Chere Hickock. Well, the rest is history. Chere Hickock came to visit Stonewall Gardens and knew immediately our interest in nature and the support team available to manage this endeavour. Chere graciously donated an amazing chicken coop to our school and her gift will be remembered years from now by children who will come to understand that eggs do not magically appear in your kitchen's refrigerator. They will become educated about the cycle of life, and the implications of human involvement, and will be able to decide for themselves which route to take as a citizen of this planet. So the chicken coop was planned, built, and completed with the help of many, including Mr. Painter, who suggested that we install a "green" roof to keep the heat down during the summer months. His wisdom is always appreciated. A Peep At the Coops tour was an instant hit. Children at Stonewall were allowed to hold, pet, and talk to our current renters: Mrs. Honey, Rusty, Mrs. Fletcher, Miss Speckles, Brownie, and Ebenezer. To witness the adult, and especially the children's enjoyment, proves that People Love Poultry. The biggest cluck ever goes out to Chere Hickock! Thank you! Stonewall Jackson Elementary, Barbara Uskovich (photos: Sarah Jane Rust & Barbara Uskovich) (Thank you Kate Cromwell for all you do for Stonewall Gardens!) (Thank you to all the volunteers who help our school, especiall those in cute rainboots.)

Mrs. Painter's Vision

2010-04-16T17:24:00.000-07:00

It probably never occurred to Mrs. Painter that almost 15 years later her vision would be a unique environmental inspiration to a multitude of Stonewall students, providing students in every classroom of our school with routines outside concrete walls. Her vision has inspired other educators to seek innovative curriculum for their classrooms instead of a traditional homogenized plan.
With the beautiful weather this past week, she decided to conduct lessons outside that would provide her current class with further experiences with plants beyond traditional selections. She has extended her Stonewall area to include a row in the community garden. (Every class is afforded an area in the garden to conduct experiments with vegetables. Plants selected for Stonewall gardens consist of varieties that have proven to produce so that all students will have an opportunity to harvest at least one crop per season.)
So this past week she took her current class out to plant: chard seeds, squash, mild peppers, and tomatoes. Then Manon McCollum reminded us, with great enthusiasm, that they planted one flower and one eggplant too. The class plans to conclude this lesson with zinnia seeds that retain nitrogen in the soil, especially during the hot Texas summers.
Mrs. Painter impressed me the first time I met her when we both arrived at Stonewall together. She taught this old dog many new tricks, including the importance of natural experiences in the classroom. If she can achieve change in one adult, just imagine the imprint that is left on each child fortunate enough to be educated with her wisdom.
Thank you Mrs. Painter!
Old Dog (aka Mrs. U.)
(photos: Barbara Uskovich)

Flower Families and Relatives

2010-04-12T11:15:00.000-07:00

For the last week or so the students have been observing the flowers that have started to bloom and are putting them into families based on flower(blossom) structure. Last week we focused on the Legume Family,Fabaceae. They learned that peas,beans,bluebonnets,and hairy vetch all had similar shaped flowers, and indeed were in the fabaceae family. They all were nitrogen fixers, and beneficial for the growth of other plants.
Legumes are hard to pollinate, a bee has to force the flower open to get at the nectar,and this causes the stamens to emerge and deposit pollen on the underside of the bee. We had to be patient to observe this process.
In the weeks to come we will study three other families: the Mint family(Labiatae),the Daisy family (Compositae), and the carrot family (umbeliferae).They all require different pollinators, and are host to many different creatures.

Thanks go out to all the volunteers that showed up for last Saturdays workday. It was really good to see the volunteers from Wilshire Baptist Church out in the garden with us. We really appreciate the effort.
(photos: Barbara Uskovich)
Madisen Haggard, 1st grade, finding good luck with a 7-spotted lady beetle during the garden work day.
Wilshire Baptist workers giving their all during the garden workday.
A pollinator visiting the hairy vetch on a beautiful afternoon.

Mrs. Uskovich's Class Dilemma

2010-04-10T19:19:00.000-07:00

Mr. Painter had been advising 1C to harvest their two community rows and ready them for summer plantings. When we went out 2 weeks ago our lettuce, spinach, and beets were covered with lady beetle larva. We did not foresee or understand that when we planted in the fall that our area would become a natural habitat for insects. An important lesson was learned that day. We went back into the classroom to have an ethical debate. We researched the lady beetle cycle length and decided to wait. We returned to our area with the following instructions: define an area with your ruler, transplant any insect activity to our neighbor Carol's area, and mentally keep count of your discoveries. We discovered 14 lady beetle larva and 59 lady beetles, mostly the 7-spotted lady beetle. Then we began the harvest. This area had previously been harvested, yet when we harvested again we had 22 one-gallon zip lock bags!, and we save the lady beetles!!!
(photos: Barbara Uskovich)
(Jaik used my camera to take my photo while raking the community row.)

Natural Alternatives to Outdoor Playing

2010-04-09T20:00:00.000-07:00

Exposure to nature during school hours allows children options beyond television and video games. This occurs when their educators allow them to explore alternatives to a regular curriculum. Recently Mrs. Rust and I were invited into the children's perspective of alternative play after school. It included:
-appreciation of nature,
-lack of fear,
-cooperation,
-appreciation/utilization of the their immediate surroundings,
-attention to detail,
-positive stewardship towards the environment,
-exciting new discoveries,
-innocent enjoyment of nature, &
-trusting your teachers because they care & they are fun!!!
(photos: Barbara Uskovich)

Bluebonnets Arrive

2010-03-31T19:09:00.000-07:00

March 31, 2010
Dear Mr. Painter,
What child is not excited about spring, as well as their educator?
If a child is to keep alive their inborn sense of wonder, they need the companionship of at least one adult who can share it, rediscovering with them the joy, excitement and mystery of the world we live in. - Rachel Carson
This educator, along with her class, waited with anticipation for the "surprise plant" that we had informed our parents about with our weekly newsletter. We were rewarded on Monday for our patience. The surprise plant acknowledged us and assured us that our predictions were correct. Texas is full of blessings in the spring. Her first blessing, before gracing the wide prairies, visited us in our immediate surroundings.
Yes, the bluebonnet arrived, more beautiful than ever because of the cries of joy heard by 1C above the honking horns on Mockingbird Lane. "She is the most beautiful flower I have ever seen"!, said Marlee. I, as an educator, love and cherish this glorious innocence. You need not ask why I teach. My student's voices remind me daily. Stonewall is busy with Special Events, but we always have the time to relish our immediate oasis, Stonewall Gardens.
Can't wait to see you,
1C
(photos - Barbara Uskovich)
(photos: bluebonnet bud, bluebonnet blooming)

Spring Flowers

2010-03-26T14:08:00.000-07:00

The days are getting longer and warmer,and life in the garden is beginning to respond. The Mexican plum and red bud trees are in full bloom. So are the red oaks though it's hard to see the blossoms without a good hand lens. We spent a good part of this week comparing the flowers,discussing their reproductive parts and how pollination takes place. Colorful,fragrant blooms require a live pollinator, while the small,drab colored oaks are wind pollinated. We discussed how the wind blown pollen was the cause of our allergic reactions. The pollen that is so large and heavy that it needs an animal to move it around doesn't easily get in our eyes and noses. We are looking forward to investigating all the flowers of spring and their pollinators.
(photos: Barbara Uskovich)

Chickens!

2010-03-07T18:49:00.001-08:00

Dear Mr. Painter,
I have been with Dallas ISD for 22 years and I realize that
Stonewall is an amazing community because we have a principal that is on board with diversity concerning our curriculum. Her expertise acknowledges that we must "keep-up" with our students by exciting and engaging them with new experiences.
For years, with the acceptance of Mrs. Henderson and the assistance of Mr. Pittillo, we have hatched chicken, quail, duck, & geese, just to name a few. This is a success story! How do I know this besides first hand knowledge? Recently I was in a kinder classroom during a parent interaction and one mother said, "I know, do not bump the incubator, the eggs are delicate". She whispered to me that she remembered when she was a little girl hatching chickens in her classroom. (It was a fond memory!) She was delighted that she and her son would be able to share this experience.
Whether it is parent/child or teacher/student, collectively we achieve a similar goal:
allowing children to have real adventures , natural experiences, and developing empathy with animal life cycles that will promote ethical behaviors related to our environment.
For several weeks I have received written and verbal expressions relating to the student's excitement about our classroom lessons with the recent enrollment of Mrs. Fletcher and Ebenezer. We have illustrated, measured, and written about these two very different characters. We have also read, researched, and retained valuable knowledge that will sustain future lessons.
David Sobel, noted author, wrote, "Animals play a significant role in the evolution of children's care about the natural world and in THEIR own emotional development".
We can not say today what Stonewall's role in each individual life may culminate, but we should as a community nurture their adventures.
Barbara Uskovich
(photos: Barbara Uskovich)

Stonewall Gardens/Lewis & Clark

2010-03-06T17:32:00.000-08:00

Dear Mr. Painter,
The day after the garden workday I was working on my lesson plans at home. My class was currently involved with a study about Lewis & Clark. They were extraordinary naturalists, keen observers, and they painstakingly mapped the trail. I remembered that you had cut back the prickly pear cactus in our garden and it happened to be one of the plants documented in the Lewis & Clark journals. What a prime opportunity to connect our garden to their historical event. I collected the cactus, distributed one to each student, and proceeded with a sensory lesson. Each student measured their piece, illustrated, and as a group completed a 5 Senses graphic organizer. Then the true experiment: eating, needless to say this is a class that is up for any challenge. Almost everyone agreed that the taste was acceptable, with flavors ranging from: sweet, tart, fresh, cucumber, pear, & one kiwi.
This one classroom lesson exemplifies a statement from David Sobel's book Childhood and Nature, " A diagnostic feature of a good classroom is being able to walk in and see something happening that you've never seen before; the intersection of children's concerns and interests, and the teacher's passion".
I feel fortunate that we have in our possession a natural environment where children have the opportunity to experience a true friendship with nature.
Mrs. Uskovich
(photos: Barbara Uskovich)

Signs of Spring

2010-03-05T13:53:00.000-08:00

The week started out cool and rainy. I was beginning to wonder if the ground was ever going to dry out enough to finish planting our potatoes and onions. But Monday was the last of the rain-for the week at least. All classes finished planting, the fourth graders who normally come out on Mondays, came out today to plant. They were so glad they did because today was the perfect day to be outside, 70 degrees at 3PM and cloudless skies.

Sure signs of Spring observed this week were birds carrying nesting material, and the Mexican plum tree with swollen white flower buds. I predict full bloom next week, and the red bud trees shortly after.

While observing the burr oak next to my portable, Mrs.Cantu noticed a strange growth on the tree's stem. We cut it open and found what we thought was a small round seed. On further observation we found a small larva inside. It was white and only a couple of millimeters long. A wasp I'm told, but unsure of the species. There were hundreds of them on the tree. What effect do these small insects have on the burr oak?

Classes have been observing chicks they hatched in the classroom. Mr Pittillo bought a small coop that the chicks could be in outside on the grass. Chicks are hatched so students can get a glimpes of at least one stage in the life cycle of a very important bird to humans. Chickens and their eggs have been a part of the diet humans (and other animals) as long as we can remember. How chickens and other meat animals are raised is now a very controversial subject. For centuries animals were raised on small farms,in small herds and flocks foraging on the natural landscape, this diet supplemented with cultivated hay and grains. Often the animals bedded down in buildings adjacent to the homes of their owners. Now the norm is that these animals are raised in large containment buildings and never see the natural light of day, or set foot on real ground. Their diet is strictly controlled, no free choice at nature's table.

The questions I posed to students this week were, "should we know where our meat food comes from and how it is raised? What sort of life should these animals live? What constitutes for them a "good" life? Should we be intimate with these animals as we are with our domesticated pets?" Should we have a chicken coupe on campus? Could raising chickens help us learn to care about the lives of at least one animal our whole society depends on so much?
(photos: Barbara Uskovich)

Stonewall Work Day (2-27-10)

2010-02-28T18:09:00.000-08:00

Everyone questioned on Friday, due to the day's bleak mist and temperature, whether or not we would have a garden workday on Saturday. Well the forecast prediction proved correct, it was a blessed day. Around ten or so the adventurous types appeared in the garden. With garden clippers in hand the young, the getting-up-there, and the we-are-now-there put our backs into clearing the pathways and wild scape. Within hours the garden made it's transformation from a seemingly defeated field, after a snowy winter, into a garden that already holds surprises for the spring.
One aspect of the garden that many should be aware of are the everyday ongoings of nature. Mrs. Painter entered the garden with a large pickle jar in hand. A Pipevine Swallowtail butterfly had just emerged from the pupa inside her classroom. She passed the jar along to several Stonewall student volunteers to release into the garden. What a memorable experience. It proves that nature proceeds daily and those that are present will reap the rewards.
Thanks must go out to: Stonewall Garden's president Kate Cromwell, her mother visiting from Chicago, and her Stonewall Stars: Jesse, Nick, Carolyn, & Louie; Jonathan Vinson; Diana Hooper, 3rd grader Sophie & kinder. Sam; Wendy Boots and 1st grader Kiley & family; Aaron Caughran, 4th grader Elle & 1st grader Finely; Kristina Haggard & 1st grader Madisen; Baily Apodaca-Moore, Sean Kilpatrick, & Briggs Uskovich.
It's been said it takes a village, well in this case it takes a Stonewall Garden Family!
Barbara Uskovich
(photos: Barbara Uskovich)

Post Revival

2010-02-26T15:14:00.000-08:00

I feel like I am on a seesaw (does anyone remember them?). One day I'm up, the next day I'm down. This has been that kind of week. Monday it was too cold to go out, although the early morning fourth graders did go out and help me weed out some winter grasses in the pathways. The day grew colder as the wind picked up so we stayed inside and explored the micro world with our new hand held,computer connected microscope(thanks P.T.A.). We explored skin, hair, fabrics, and insect body parts. Wow, 60 year old skin sure looks different than 9 year old skin!

On Tuesday, Mrs. Uskovichs' class got out in the garden and found a very interesting plant called "bedstraw". It is very tender and the stems break easily. Throw a stem at someone and it sticks to them. The stems and leaves are covered with tiny barbs that grab and hold on to porous surfaces, especially clothes. the seeds of this plant are also covered with these tiny barbs or hooks that help in dispersal. Neat adaptation!

Later in the week we got out into the garden and examined the potatoes we had earlier tucked into the soil. To my surprise, some of the Red LaSoda potatoes were beginning to put out roots. This, even though the ground temperatures remained right around 40 degrees F. The Yukon Gold spuds showed no signs of growth. The two varieties showing different adaptations to ground temperature.

We put some 1015Y onions in the ground, in beds and pots that did not have a fall crop. On Thursday the fifth graders came out and we sifted compost, applying the fine compost to the peas we planted last week. They have not germinated yet. But with rain predicted for this weekend, I expect to see them popping up soon.
(photos: Barbara Uskovich)

1C Took the Challenge

2010-02-21T18:27:00.000-08:00

Dear Mr. Painter,
We read your last journal entry and we were doubtful about any insect activity in the garden. So we decided to see if you were correct. We went out with the sole purpose of disproving insect activity. Guess what! You were correct again. We identified several lady beetles. The one that intrigued us the most was the Twice Stabbed lady beetles because they were strictly on the crepe myrtles??? In fact Mrs. Uskovich, with the help of Dallas, collected over 20 one day this week after school. We then had the opportunity to view them under our new computer microscope, thank you Stonewall PTA, and we each illustrated their designs. We very briefly saw your favorite, the Cucumber beetle, which quickly descended to the lower stems. In all, not counting the Twice Stabbed lady beetles, we observed 3 other lady beetles. Thank you for informing the classes as to which tasks need to be conducted in the outdoor lab.
1C
(Mr. Painter, It is true that if the students are given advanced insight as to what is occurring in the garden, they are the ultimate explorers. Mrs. U.)
P.S. Yes, we released all of the Twice Stabbed lady beetles in the garden after completing our detailed illustrations.
(photos: Barbara Uskovich)

Revival

2010-02-17T19:53:00.000-08:00

Today was the most wonderful day of the year. Air temperatures were in the low fifties, the skies were clear, and the wind was slight. We were able to go into the garden and harvest a few heads of cabbage. They were small and freeze damaged, but something to take home, a small success.

We pulled the plants up, left them upside down so the roots would dry out and die. They will be moved to the compost pile to transform with the help of decomposers into nutrients for later crops. In nature the dead still play a role. There is no waste.

We raked back the mulch to expose the soil to the rays of the sun. At this time of the year we want the soil to warm and dry slightly in the top couple of inches. In a few days, they will be at the right moisture level and temperature for optimal growth of cool season vegetables. The soil needs to warm into the fifties. Right now the soil is 38 degrees F. and wet. When we can dig into the soil without it sticking to our shovels, the soil can be cultivated.

We did plant some potatoes, just barely scratching the ground placing the potatoes in very shallow holes covered with a little soil and partially decomposed wood chips. When the temperature is right they will sprout, and we are in business. We are going to test whether we will get better production out of potatoes planted whole or when we just plant "eyes" cut from the whole potato.

Onion "slips" will be going in the ground this week also. They have been patiently waiting in the tool shed for their grand entrance. I think their time is now! They will be placed in shallow trenches 4-6 inches apart covered with fine soil and compost. They need a little soil to hold them upright and a thin layer of compost to get them off on a good start.

The warm temperatures brought out other life in the garden. We observed several lady beetles, a few cabbage white butterfles, and at least one leaffooted bug, all this activity just a couple of days after record snowfall. I know how those insects felt!
(photos: Barbara Uskovich)

Weather and The Garden

2010-02-13T05:50:00.000-08:00

Yesterday around noon I went to the garden with Mrs. Uskovich to see how the record 12 inches of snowfall had affected the plants at school. All around my neighborhood near Tietze park trees were broken, limbs laying in yards and in the streets. Evergreen trees seemed to fair the worst having leaves for the snow to cling to. I feared the cedars at school would be damaged.

When we pulled into the parking lot, there they were, limbs broken and lying on the ground. I don't know if we will be able to save them. What a loss. In the garden the desert willow was also damaged badly. The burr oaks, red oaks, and the Mexican plum were not hurt. The beds with cabbage and broccoli were totally covered with snow, small mounds of snow where the plants were. The snow probably didn't hurt them, and in fact acted as insulation against much colder air.

This has been the coldest, wettest winter I can remember since I've been at Stonewall. Is this a sign of "global warming" or climate change? Or are we experiencing a normal cycle of warm to cold, wet to dry seasons? Where do we look for the answers?

Monday, the weather was too bad to go outside, so we watched a video clip having to do with the retreating of glaciers around the world. Climate scientists look to glaciers for answers concerning climate change. These scientists can drill into the glaciers and take out core samples just as do people who study trees. These core samples reveal seasonal layers of snowfall that have packed into ice. The layers can be analysised for carbon dioxide levels going back hundreds of thousands of years. High levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere are associated with high atmospheric temperatures and high sea levels. Since the start of the industrial revolution and the use of fossil fuels for energy, carbon dioxide levels have risen far above normal historic highs. This, they say has led to higher atmospheric temperatues on average around the world, enough to cause the glaciers to melt and retreat far faster than normal.

What does this have to do with the garden at Stonewall? We teach the students that weather is one of the non-living parts of the environmental system we are a part of. Within this system are seasonal weather patterns we depend on to tell us what and when to plant, based on expected rainfall and temperture. Our whole civilization depends on agriculture based on predictable weather patterns. To act now and in the future, we must know these patterns and be able to predict them within a given range. Our success growing here at Stonewall in the past has been based on familiar temperature and rainfall patterns.

The question that we should all be asking is, "Are weather patterns changing, and if so, is our behavior affecting these changes?"

Because of the weather, we stayed inside this week and observed the world of compost. Students using hand lenses and microscopes examined the many creatures that we depend on to turn the dead into food for the living. Ask your child what they observed.
(photos: Barbara Uskovich)

Incredible Indoor Lab Explorations!!!

2010-02-09T18:26:00.000-08:00

Dear Mr. Painter,
The weather was not the best for outdoor observations. 1C pleaded for Mr. Painter to stay this week and revisit a previous indoor experiment to enrich our understanding of what beneficial "critters" there are beneath our feet and their importance.
Mr. Painter went to the compost pile and "dug" up soil samples for the students to explore with all 5 senses. (Parents, I must interject, I wish I had a digital voice recording of the pure excitement that was resounding in the lab. I am sorry that others were not there to witness the joy the students experienced of digging in the earth and their lack of fear for nature. A Perk of teaching!)
The students first did a survey of their row in the north island and lack of production. Kaden was the first to notice frozen dew/precipitation on the leaves. We then proceeded into the the science lab. Tubs of compost, hand lenses, and microscopes were already in place on each table. Prior classroom discussions occurred before we entered the lab for comprehension purposes. Procedures for lab explorations were reviewed and then the class was allowed to enjoy free observations.
1C recorded the following:
smells: beef, oregano, barb-be-que sauce, ketchup, and vinegar;
compost critters: earthworms, worms, white worms, centipedes, grubs, maggots, snail shells, sow bugs, mites, and various organic waste;
new vocabulary: decompose, humus, digest, & aerate;
purpose statement: The critters break down material to provide nutrients for plants;
conclusion: Every animal, even those we do not see, are beneficial to humans, earth, and the web/cycle;
new understandings: life responds to temperature!
The class returned to the classroom to record and illustrate their experience.
A question was posed to the students: What would it be like to be a worm in a compost pile?
Responses included:
I am nature and nature is beautiful, there is nothing to be sad about, I have friends. (Caroline)
If I were a worm I would eat as much as I weigh. (Cooper) (accurate)
It would be very cool because I would meet /see critters that I had never seen before. (Maya)
It would be a little scary at first, but then I would get use to it and have fun. (Lily)
It would be great to be a worm so I can help the garden community. (Zachary)
Thank you Mr. Painter for you expertise and time,
XXX 1C
(photos: Barbara Uskovich)

Preparing For Spring- February 6, 2010

2010-02-06T06:51:00.000-08:00

This past week in the garden students began pruning dead leaves from some of the healthier plants, and pulled out the ones that were obviously dead or too small to possibly produce anytime soon. We did some weeding,but the ground is so wet that we only pulled those that came out easily. You don't want to dig in the ground if it is too wet, as that destroys healthy soil structure.

1st and 2nd grade classes planted pepper and tomato seeds in small pots inside. They also put some onion slips (small green onions) in containers to get them growing. We'll later transplant them into the garden beds. Once again, the ground is really too wet to start putting them into it.

Potatoes will be started next week by laying them into a couple of beds not currently occupied. They will be covered with dark composted wood chips and allowed to sprout. The students will monitor them weekly to observe the new roots and stems starting at the "eyes". Later they will be moved into the class beds.

Friday was a dream day. Bright sun and relatively warm weather (high of 60) had all of us in high spirits. We did more weeding and pruning as we observed the plants that were dead and the ones that were coming back already. Very little animal life was observed on plants this week. Students in Mrs. Batista's class found cabbage white larva on some of their red cabbage plants (they are very hardy and survived the frezzing weather). Aphids were found on the bottoms of cabbage leaves and a couple of sluggish lady beetles were found in the mulch. When the weather warms a bit they will get after those aphids.

The cold and wet is predicted to return Monday, but warm weather is around the corner, I hope! Just like molecules in all matter, animals including us, will become more active in the garden as the temperature rises.
(photos: Barbara Uskovich)

1-29-10 Time to Eat our Harvest!

2010-01-31T09:23:00.000-08:00

Our class was ready to taste the harvest. With salad dressing donations from the 1C parents we were ready to conduct one more experiment. Which dressing would best enhance the taste of our produce. Each child was given a plate and salad. Each group was given 5 small cups with 5 different dressings. (Sicilian Roasted Garlic, Raspberry, French, Italian, Honey Mustard, & one surprise - Sophie's Secret Homemade Recipe) Let the debates begin! Many ooh's & ahh's, but when the votes came in we had a tie between Sophie's Secret Recipe and Italian.
Conclusion: Our own Sophie may have a future in the food industry and gardening may be hard work, but the rewards are worth the effort! (Just ask Cage!)
(photos: Barbara Uskovich)

1-28-10 Community Harvest Time

2010-01-31T08:59:00.000-08:00

The community rows survived the freezing temperatures over the holidays.
1C had been monitoring the weather and with the advice of Mr. Painter we knew it was time to harvest our crops. Students broke into harvesting and collection teams. The students went right to work removing the fall foliage that naturally protected our crops. They then went to work harvesting the red and green lettuce leaves along with the spinach. The collection teams went around with zip-lock bags which would later be weighed in the classroom. The total amount was approximately 10.5 pounds. We feel this to be astonishing considering the weather conditions and lack of protection the crops had to endure.
Experiment Conclusion: The row that was planted using the random method produced more because there was no limit on the amount of seeds broadcast.
(photos: Barbara Uskovich)

10-21-09 Watering Systems

2010-01-31T08:48:00.000-08:00

The students were given the opportunity to implement a watering system for the two rows since our garden time is limited and we are now in charge of three growing areas.
They, in teams, set up a soaking hose that had been fitted with smaller extension lines. They were given the freedom to select where they thought it best to place each system. They also had to check to make sure each system was secured and working. Each child, on a rotation system, was in charge of checking this system weekly.
(photos: Barbara Uskovich)

10-20-09 Free-Form Planting

2010-01-31T08:35:00.000-08:00

1C has two rows in the Stonewall community garden. The day before with the help of Mr. Painter we planted one row utilizing array boards. Today the students were given the same seeds, excluding garlic, and just scattered the seeds in random patterns. We would now be able to compare the two rows. Our experiment would be to see which row would produce the best. This same day each row was fertilized with worm castings to enhance growth in a natural way. We went back into the classroom to create a graph with our predictions as to which row would be the largest producer.
(photos: Barbara Uskovich)

10-19-09 Array Boards

2010-01-31T08:25:00.000-08:00

Mr. Painter agreed to meet with 1C on his day off to introduce the students to the idea of a uniform pattern of planting. The students were given ply wood that had holes drilled in a pattern. The students were instructed to place skewers into each hole to create a depression in the soil. They were give green/red lettuce, beets, spinach, and garlic. Each student participated in the planting. Our experiment was to see if the plants produced in a pattern. This experiment would take several months of observations, watering/composting/measuring/illustrating, and monitoring.
Will these hardy cold weather crops survive until next year?
(photos: Barbara Uskovich)

Rows Prepared 10-18-09

2010-01-30T20:39:00.000-08:00

What a beautiful weekend to meet Mr. Painter.
Two rows became available in the community garden and I quickly
asked Mr. Painter if my current class could conduct extra experiments
in this area. He quickly agreed and put his back into the preparation
work. The rows were ready for the 1st graders the following week.
(photos: Barbara Uskovich)

Getting Ready For Next Planting

2010-01-30T18:30:00.000-08:00

I got back into the garden this last week with a few classes. The cold, wet weather let up just enough to go out and harvest a few small heads of broccoli and several bags of lettuce and spinach. Mrs. Uskovich's class and I had a nice salad with their lettuce on Friday. The lettuce was great!(but I really needed some ranch dressing). For the most part, the harvest of fall crops will be meager. I'm already thinking about potatoes, onions, peas,and carrots that will go into the ground the second week of February. In March we will follow with squash, cucumbers, beans, tomatoes, and peppers.

Right now the ground is wet and cold. The last couple of days have brought us 2-3 inches of rain, and freezing weather. It's hard to think of gardening in this weather, but we must plan ahead, and work getting the beds ready when the weather allows. I'm praying for some fifty, maybe even sixty degree, sunny weather to warm the ground and my soul. The ever increasing daylength now will also help the temperatures and my attitude.

I look forward to seeing all classes in the garden this coming week!

2010 A New Beginning

2010-01-27T18:35:00.000-08:00

Dear Mr. Painter,
Upon our return from the holidays we have gone out to the garden according to our regular schedule, including learning walks.
In addition to collecting data, we:
-harvested what little broccoli was left from the freeze
-we left some of the broccoli plants to see if they would produce
-composted those plants we deemed non-living from the north island
-collected the loofa (non-producing because of the freeze) from the south fence, peeled the skin, measure length (in/cm),
recovered seeds, created a graph with measurement of length and seed collection, and recorded, using our 5 senses - especially smell - because the teacher kept leaving the room - it was not pleasant, listed/compared our discoveries
-we also had a burial for our class pet (Roxy-the-rat).
We were so excited when you made a guest appearance this week. It was exciting for us to continue to observe and record the broccoli harvest, help dismantle the rest of the loofa fence, and "taste", those that were brave enought, the dehydrated peppers before composting.
Side Note: Mr. Painter & I discussed how the students would be able to actually clear the pepper patch because the root system is hardy. He & I observed the student's fustration, but perseverance when they, as a group, using their feet as a "lever", broke the stem system to gain acess to the root structure. What an amazing lesson. I am proud of my class for their problem-solving skills.
Thank you Mr. Painter for our Garden,
1C
(photos: Barbara Uskovich)

Freeze Damage

2010-01-15T14:35:00.000-08:00

Walk through the garden and look at your plant and you will probably be really depressed. I am anyway. There is more freeze damage this year than any year since I have been gardening at Stonewall. Everyone is talking about global warming, but what they really mean is climate change. Is our climate changing? Can we predict with certainty what the weather will be like in the months ahead? It's very important for farmers and gardeners to depend on the weather patterns that we normally experience.This allows us to plant the appropriate crops at the right time.

I'm planning for the spring planting. Should we plant peas later this month or wait until early February? Onions now(they are selling them in the nurseries)or wait a while? Will our last freeze be in mid March or later? There are a lot of variables to consider. Gardening is a game of chance.

I look out the window and I see it is raining. I wonder how much we will receive? January is normally a month with little rain. Will this January be normal?
(photos: Barbara Uskovich)

Winter Freeze

2010-01-04T07:55:00.000-08:00

Well, it's been a little longer than a week since my last post, but I've been experiencing technological lag and a little holiday overstimulation.

The last week of school before the students left for the holidays, we were out in the garden observing plant and animal adaptation to freezing weather and short day length. We had some pretty hard freezes and tender wildflowers and vegetables quickly became limp and brown. Even some of our "adapted" fall vegetables looked like they suffered damage. The freezing weather has continued over the last two weeks and the plants are alive, but not doing so well. Only time will tell if we will get much of a harvest. The weather forecast for the next few days doesn't look too good either. The coldest weather in the last fifteen years is predicted. Hopefully the weather will allow students to continue going out to observe the subtle changes that are occurring in the garden.

This January I will not be with the students, but I will be in the garden when the weather allows doing maintenance work. This is also the time when I will be getting ready for the planting that will start in early February. In the meantime, keep reading here and let me know what you see in the garden. Tell us what is happening with YOUR plant right now by writing about your findings on the Garden blog(ask for help from your teacher about blogging)!

If you want to check out earlier garden blogs, here is the link: http://sites.google.com/site/swjgarden/markblog?offset=30

Look forward to hearing from ALL of you!!
markpainter@stonewallgardens.com

December 4, 2009

2009-12-10T03:49:00.001-08:00

This week we have seen the coldest weather of the fall season. The temperature has dipped close to freezing and at least one morning there was a light frost. A little snow fell midweek, but melted in just a few hours. It is now 4 P.M. Friday, the sun is out and it is 40 degrees F.

Gulf frittillaries larva are still on the passionvine and we are seeing many more cabbage white butterfly larva on the broccoli and cabbage. Aphids are appearing on the underside of the leaves as well. Aphids and cabbaged white larva need to be removed.

This week we mulched the vegetables and went inside to discuss the movement of heat and how mulch acts as an insulator, keeping heat in the ground in winter and heat out of the ground in summer.

In the next few weeks before December break we need to be watching for pests and applying plant food. Pull weeds if you have any. Most crops do not look close to maturing, but if the sun stays out and temperatures aren't too low the plants will grow fast. But harvest looks to be in January.
(photos: Barbara Uskovich)