It's hard to believe that there are only six weeks left to this school year. We'll be wrapping up the winter planted vegetables, such as lettuce, carrots, and potatoes, and planting corn, squash and cucumbers. The tomatoes and peppers are already in the ground, and the sweet potatoes that escaped the students notice last fall are sprouting again.
This year we finished planting the orchard, added new garden beds, cleared out some areas in the Nature Center, added new tables, and finished off the support of the Aquaponics system. We acquired a little cooktop, made birdhouses out of gourds grown in the garden, and tasted mushroom soup made with mushrooms growing in my office. Our California Cedar tree got decorated for Christmas, and the scarecrows from last year were deemed done and ready to move on. One of our parents volunteered to use her artistic gifts to create a mural on the wall between the Garden and Nature Center - a massive undertaking, especially with our rainy winter. I had more students than ever join the Garden Club - leading me to consider splitting them into three groups, instead of just two. The Garden Helpers were a constant with the youngest students vying for a spot at recess.
We were fortunate to have so much support again this year. Kellogg Organic Garden donated products that helped us grow our plants and augment our soil. Grants from Kaiser Permanente, Downey, Monarch Watch/Natural Resources Defense Council Green Gifts Program, as well as donations from Sow True Seed, Home Depot and Walmart were all essential to our progress. The PTA sponsored an event in the Garden and helped us purchase some supplies, and a local Eagle Scout troup will come to help do spring cleanup this weekend. Our "regular" volunteer group - the Easter Seals clients with Kisha, faithfully came nearly every Tuesday and Thursday morning to help keep the Nature Center and Garden tidy. Along the way, we had community volunteers who helped build things, clear things, plant things, and generally help out. Our Nature Center and Garden would not be doing well without all of this support.
Shortly I will be saying goodbye to another set of sixth graders, and telling the rest that I will see them in fall - a little older and a little taller. Heading into my 4th year here at Niemes, my initial goals are well on their way to completion. But what was new to me, was the continuity of the students - unlike other places I have seen, I see little turnover in students. The children I started with in Kindergarten will be in 4th grade in September. I am happy to know that many of them still love coming to the Nature Center and Garden.
Throughout the year I take care of the plants and the students - teaching them whatever I like, really. There is so much regulation in their classrooms, with so much pressure to perform, that I try to keep what they do in the Nature Center and Garden less structured. We do some physical work, a little math, a little art, some eating, and much exploration. I enjoy it when they become curious and ask further questions about the plants or animals - although I believe that the question that I am asked most is "What is the cat's name?" Still, that leads to questions about Cat being "wild", and it's job in the Nature Center and Garden, and the jobs of animals and insects in general.
If you have not been able to visit our wonderful space, please consider it. I love to show off what the students are doing, and what they have accomplished, and the beautiful Garden mural is supposed to be finished by summertime. As I consider goals for the next few years, a rebuilt Reptile Refuge, and a Bicycle Blender are on the list - maybe even a Farm Stand!
We always welcome volunteers, donations, and ideas for improvement. You can contact me on my email: [email protected], or by phone: 818-470-0005.
This year we finished planting the orchard, added new garden beds, cleared out some areas in the Nature Center, added new tables, and finished off the support of the Aquaponics system. We acquired a little cooktop, made birdhouses out of gourds grown in the garden, and tasted mushroom soup made with mushrooms growing in my office. Our California Cedar tree got decorated for Christmas, and the scarecrows from last year were deemed done and ready to move on. One of our parents volunteered to use her artistic gifts to create a mural on the wall between the Garden and Nature Center - a massive undertaking, especially with our rainy winter. I had more students than ever join the Garden Club - leading me to consider splitting them into three groups, instead of just two. The Garden Helpers were a constant with the youngest students vying for a spot at recess.
We were fortunate to have so much support again this year. Kellogg Organic Garden donated products that helped us grow our plants and augment our soil. Grants from Kaiser Permanente, Downey, Monarch Watch/Natural Resources Defense Council Green Gifts Program, as well as donations from Sow True Seed, Home Depot and Walmart were all essential to our progress. The PTA sponsored an event in the Garden and helped us purchase some supplies, and a local Eagle Scout troup will come to help do spring cleanup this weekend. Our "regular" volunteer group - the Easter Seals clients with Kisha, faithfully came nearly every Tuesday and Thursday morning to help keep the Nature Center and Garden tidy. Along the way, we had community volunteers who helped build things, clear things, plant things, and generally help out. Our Nature Center and Garden would not be doing well without all of this support.
Shortly I will be saying goodbye to another set of sixth graders, and telling the rest that I will see them in fall - a little older and a little taller. Heading into my 4th year here at Niemes, my initial goals are well on their way to completion. But what was new to me, was the continuity of the students - unlike other places I have seen, I see little turnover in students. The children I started with in Kindergarten will be in 4th grade in September. I am happy to know that many of them still love coming to the Nature Center and Garden.
Throughout the year I take care of the plants and the students - teaching them whatever I like, really. There is so much regulation in their classrooms, with so much pressure to perform, that I try to keep what they do in the Nature Center and Garden less structured. We do some physical work, a little math, a little art, some eating, and much exploration. I enjoy it when they become curious and ask further questions about the plants or animals - although I believe that the question that I am asked most is "What is the cat's name?" Still, that leads to questions about Cat being "wild", and it's job in the Nature Center and Garden, and the jobs of animals and insects in general.
If you have not been able to visit our wonderful space, please consider it. I love to show off what the students are doing, and what they have accomplished, and the beautiful Garden mural is supposed to be finished by summertime. As I consider goals for the next few years, a rebuilt Reptile Refuge, and a Bicycle Blender are on the list - maybe even a Farm Stand!
We always welcome volunteers, donations, and ideas for improvement. You can contact me on my email: [email protected], or by phone: 818-470-0005.