Dear Friends,
The Spring has brought us an array of miracles at the p.e.a.c.h. community farm. We have seen sprouts coming up in our greenhouse, over 80 children come to our farm for educational programs, and over 75 volunteers come to our farm to plan, plant, and create local food and community. Through this blog we hope to share with you a sampling of our wisdom gained through these experiences. Engaging children in nature is my personal passion, Chrys will be answering garden questions, and Arelya will be sharing some raw food recipies from the garden of her knowledge. Kids, gardening, and good food tips. What more could you ask for in a blog? A perfect combination for an afternoon read.
Engaging the child:
It's amaz
ing how a child will react when left to their own devices. This past farm camp session, I was tired. We were teaching the children about some hard-to-grasp concepts about soil microbes, "soil citizens" we called them. We taught them how plants can talk to fungi in the soil and the fungi will go and get whatever the plant needs, bring it back to the plants, and the plants will excrete a sugar to thank the fungi, therefore creating what we adults know as a symbiotic relationship. After a long morning of exploring this, the kids were tired too. I noticed a drop in energy and so after lunch was done, just let them go explore the woods for a while. As I did I noticed their energy coming back, their curiosity rising, and their questions starting to flow again (which is how I gauge if I am doing a good job of teaching). "What's this plant? What does this do? Can we eat it?" They had brought back a yarrow plant, one of my favorites to teach about. I showed them how you can chew it up and stick it onto a wound to stop the bleeding right away.
Later in the day we ended up in the forest and I went to take one child to the bathroom. Before I left I gave them loose directions saying to find a tree and get to know their tree like a friend. When I came back the children were either exploring their tree or leaning on it and all of them had created a space for their tree, decorating it with flowers or putting a ring of pine cones around it. They sat quietly by their tree and even asked for a second opportunity to sit with their tree, which we did later on in the day.
Children love unstructured play! It is a child passion as Jon Young puts it in his book 'Coyote Mentoring', and when we give it to them, especially as Spring is coming, their curiosity will peak, they will find new discoveries and more questions, and they will become more engaged in the world around them.
Rachael Fairbanks
The Spring has brought us an array of miracles at the p.e.a.c.h. community farm. We have seen sprouts coming up in our greenhouse, over 80 children come to our farm for educational programs, and over 75 volunteers come to our farm to plan, plant, and create local food and community. Through this blog we hope to share with you a sampling of our wisdom gained through these experiences. Engaging children in nature is my personal passion, Chrys will be answering garden questions, and Arelya will be sharing some raw food recipies from the garden of her knowledge. Kids, gardening, and good food tips. What more could you ask for in a blog? A perfect combination for an afternoon read.
Engaging the child:
It's amaz
ing how a child will react when left to their own devices. This past farm camp session, I was tired. We were teaching the children about some hard-to-grasp concepts about soil microbes, "soil citizens" we called them. We taught them how plants can talk to fungi in the soil and the fungi will go and get whatever the plant needs, bring it back to the plants, and the plants will excrete a sugar to thank the fungi, therefore creating what we adults know as a symbiotic relationship. After a long morning of exploring this, the kids were tired too. I noticed a drop in energy and so after lunch was done, just let them go explore the woods for a while. As I did I noticed their energy coming back, their curiosity rising, and their questions starting to flow again (which is how I gauge if I am doing a good job of teaching). "What's this plant? What does this do? Can we eat it?" They had brought back a yarrow plant, one of my favorites to teach about. I showed them how you can chew it up and stick it onto a wound to stop the bleeding right away.Later in the day we ended up in the forest and I went to take one child to the bathroom. Before I left I gave them loose directions saying to find a tree and get to know their tree like a friend. When I came back the children were either exploring their tree or leaning on it and all of them had created a space for their tree, decorating it with flowers or putting a ring of pine cones around it. They sat quietly by their tree and even asked for a second opportunity to sit with their tree, which we did later on in the day.
Children love unstructured play! It is a child passion as Jon Young puts it in his book 'Coyote Mentoring', and when we give it to them, especially as Spring is coming, their curiosity will peak, they will find new discoveries and more questions, and they will become more engaged in the world around them.
Rachael Fairbanks
Farm Camp Director and Farm Hands Coordinator
Engaging the earth:
April is here. This is my favorite month in Spring. This is the time to go completely wild with planting things. Sure, March is a good time to get that super early jump on the season, but April is when things really begin to happen. It's a perfect time to start your tomatoes, peppers and eggplant indoors for transplanting out in June. It's a good time to get your Cole crops going indoors as well (these are the broccolis, cabbages, kales, cauliflowers, etc.). And don't forget flowers, many of which can be started indoors and some outdoors in April (check the planting instructions). The more flowers you have in your vegetable garden, the more insect diversity you will have. Plan
ahead to try and have some varieties in bloom at all times during the season. As a result, there'll be less tendency to have damaging invasions of pest species, since all the different kinds of bugs you'll attract keep each other's populations in check. Good insect attracting flowers are Annual Candytuft, Siberian Wallflower, Coreopsis, Flax, Annual Gaillardia, Black Eyed Susan, Cilantro (Coriander), California Poppy, Baby Blue-Eyes, Gayfeather, Shasta Daisy, Bishop's Flower, Dill, Globe Gilia, Purple Prairie Clover, Rockcress, Sweet Alyssum, Forget-Me-Not and New England Aster. In April you can also begin to sow some vegetable seeds directly into your garden soil. These include carrots, beets, lettuces, chard, peas (pre-soak 24 hours first) and spinach. Although these crops can get started on their own, to speed things up, try making mini hoop houses over them after sowing using eight gauge sturdy wire or 3/4" black polyethylene tubing
Engaging the earth:
April is here. This is my favorite month in Spring. This is the time to go completely wild with planting things. Sure, March is a good time to get that super early jump on the season, but April is when things really begin to happen. It's a perfect time to start your tomatoes, peppers and eggplant indoors for transplanting out in June. It's a good time to get your Cole crops going indoors as well (these are the broccolis, cabbages, kales, cauliflowers, etc.). And don't forget flowers, many of which can be started indoors and some outdoors in April (check the planting instructions). The more flowers you have in your vegetable garden, the more insect diversity you will have. Plan
ahead to try and have some varieties in bloom at all times during the season. As a result, there'll be less tendency to have damaging invasions of pest species, since all the different kinds of bugs you'll attract keep each other's populations in check. Good insect attracting flowers are Annual Candytuft, Siberian Wallflower, Coreopsis, Flax, Annual Gaillardia, Black Eyed Susan, Cilantro (Coriander), California Poppy, Baby Blue-Eyes, Gayfeather, Shasta Daisy, Bishop's Flower, Dill, Globe Gilia, Purple Prairie Clover, Rockcress, Sweet Alyssum, Forget-Me-Not and New England Aster. In April you can also begin to sow some vegetable seeds directly into your garden soil. These include carrots, beets, lettuces, chard, peas (pre-soak 24 hours first) and spinach. Although these crops can get started on their own, to speed things up, try making mini hoop houses over them after sowing using eight gauge sturdy wire or 3/4" black polyethylene tubing for your framework and "Remay" or floating row cover for the covering (available by the foot at local garden supply centers). Just make sure to pin down the edges securely with rocks or ground staples to guard against gusty spring winds, ventilate during the day if temperatures rise into the 70's and keep your seed beds moist. Okay, Go!
Chrys Ostrander, Director of Farming Programs
p.e.a.c.h. Community Farms and Gardens
People for Environmental Action and Community Health
Engaging the belly:
You've got to love the joy of a good meatloaf on a cold winter's day, but what about when it starts to get warmer and you don't want to eat heavy protein-rich food? This nutritious variation on meatloaf will be sure to tantilize your tastebuds, leaving you well-fed and satisfied.
Chrys Ostrander, Director of Farming Programs
p.e.a.c.h. Community Farms and Gardens
People for Environmental Action and Community Health
Engaging the belly:
You've got to love the joy of a good meatloaf on a cold winter's day, but what about when it starts to get warmer and you don't want to eat heavy protein-rich food? This nutritious variation on meatloaf will be sure to tantilize your tastebuds, leaving you well-fed and satisfied.
grated1-2 white potatoes,
grated1 turnip
grated 1 onion
cut-up 3 celery stalks, with leaves
1 pound raw peanuts
Put each item in a food processor individually.
When each item is processed, place in a large bowl.
Mix together and refrigerate overnight.
Next day, shape into a loaf. Enjoy!
Upcoming P.e.a.c.h. Events:
visit www.peachlocal.com for more information
April 24th- Organic Gardening: Starting your first vegetable garden
May 1st- Country Fair- A fundraiser for p.e.a.c.h. community farm
May 8th- Final fruit tree workshop
May 8th- Farm Camp: A day on the Farm
visit www.peachlocal.com for more information
April 24th- Organic Gardening: Starting your first vegetable garden
May 1st- Country Fair- A fundraiser for p.e.a.c.h. community farm
May 8th- Final fruit tree workshop
May 8th- Farm Camp: A day on the Farm
Sign up your children for summer farm camp now!!!
$200 for a week of education and entertainment
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