Posted in BCS Teaching Garden/SotE Urban Farm 2011, Birding, Changing Seasons on Dec 1st, 2011
The ducks were quacking extra early this morning. I couldn’t figure out why they were so darn quacky at 7am, when they usually aren’t up until 8:30ish. In retrospect, I think they were chilly and complaining for a hot breakfast.
When I went down at 7:45 to let the poultry out, I had to [...]
Posted in Books and Reading, Changing Seasons, Learning, O Come, O Come Emmanuel on Nov 29th, 2011
In this season, we add Advent readings, reflections and songs to our homeschool day. Some way we are enjoying this season of anticipation:
reflecting with an Advent prayer book from Ascension Presbyterian
reading from The Jesus Storybook Bible
celebrating with Family Hymns from Kortney at One Deep Drawer
playing with some of our Nativity sets on the nature table
creating [...]
Posted in Changing Seasons, From my kitchen, Homemaking on Nov 16th, 2011
I let the kids sleep in, and worked on tidying up a bit since the neighbor boys are coming over this morning for a play date (Bend-a-roos and Playmobils and sofa-cushion forts are on the agenda, according to the girls). Chickens and ducks were let out and fed a breakfast of mashed, roasted pumpkin, scratch [...]
Posted in BCS Teaching Garden/SotE Urban Farm 2011, Changing Seasons on Mar 23rd, 2011
When my girls were in preschool, one of their favorite outdoor activities was patrolling the school grounds with the class, hunting for “signs of spring”. Today, after yard chores were done (including snuggling with her favorite hen, Plucky (above)), my oldest and I hunted for signs of spring in the garden. It was quite encouraging [...]
Posted in BCS Teaching Garden/SotE Urban Farm 2011, Changing Seasons, Learning, Working the earth/harvesting its bounty on Feb 19th, 2011
On this brilliantly sunny February Saturday, we ordered chicks and ducklings from the feed store, and discovered garlic, crocus, vibrant-pink rhubarb emerging from the soil, and soaked up the first hints of spring-to-come.
In a week in which we had a lot of sickness and stress, and grief, I am doubly blessed that we are learning [...]
Posted in BCS Teaching Garden/SotE Urban Farm 2011, Changing Seasons, Locally grown, Moderation and Economy, Working the earth/harvesting its bounty on Feb 16th, 2011
We’re back! I can’t believe I haven’t blogged in over two months! Morning sickness is finally (mostly) gone, and life is getting back to normal a little bit. So, let’s call this a fresh start, shall we? We’ve decided to make a concerted effort to use this space to document and reflect on what’s going [...]
Posted in Changing Seasons, Homemaking, Moderation and Economy, Our home on Nov 30th, 2010
When entering our home, there is no coat closet, or even much of an entryway to speak of. Our kids tend to walk in the door and immediately dump their coats on the floor. And, of course, the dog promptly makes a nest in them and takes a nap. Even if they take their coats [...]
Posted in Changing Seasons, From my kitchen, Locally grown, Working the earth/harvesting its bounty on Aug 25th, 2010
The tomatoes are starting to ripen! Can’t wait to take them in to BCS on Friday!! Families have been asking for the last month when we’d have fresh, ripe tomatoes.
90 percent of the tomatoes are still green, including many gigantic beefsteaks, like this Brandywine (look at that sucker in my hand! HUGE!). If you’ve got [...]
Posted in Changing Seasons, Homemaking, Locally grown, Moderation and Economy, Our home, Working the earth/harvesting its bounty on May 23rd, 2010
And here’s the rest of the garden update:
There wasn’t time to get any side-yard shots before the rain started up again, but we now have 64 healthy strawberry plants growing there (many have set fruit already!) and the Christmas limas are germinating there as well.
Out in the backyard – the peas (see above) are as [...]
Posted in Changing Seasons, Homemaking, Learning, Locally grown, Nature Table, Our home, Working the earth/harvesting its bounty on May 22nd, 2010
The garden has really taken off after a week of hot, sunny weather, followed by lots of rain. (although, the cold nights and wind the past few days haven’t done us any favors). Volunteers have been able to start taking in a few baskets of organic produce to BCS, mostly radishes, mustard greens, lettuce, chives, [...]