Greetings! It has been nearly a year and a half away from Garden Nanny Notebook. Not because there haven't been things to say, I just haven't been a gardening nanny AND it has been a very busy year.
2012 recap:
(Dec. 2011) Graduated with an M.S. in AgEd
Jan-March Worked with some great ladies writing units for Keep Iowa Beautiful's Teachers Going Green
May-Sept Spent a lot of time outdoors with school groups at The Brenton Arboretum
Nov-Dec Reconnected with kids & leaders at the Des Moines Botanical Center
So many great friends and outdoor moments. Reviving Garden Nanny Notebook this year is very important because while there are no kids to nanny, I still have so many wonderful ideas to share as spring and summer slowly creep up. Kids, nannies, and mommies will find great ideas for home, yard, and reading!
Stay tuned, I'm really looking forward to 2013!
Thursday, January 3, 2013
Monday, March 28, 2011
Case of the Mondays
"It looks like someone has a case of the Mondays!" I seriously can't help but quote Office Space to myself every Monday since February.
It's spring and I'm waiting on this spring weather that brightens up my Mondays and increases the motivation. I know that there are only 5 weeks of Stat 401 left, but I just can't help but be bogged down by the burden and stress of it all. It's still cold but on the upside, it's sunny today. I had to check out the weather this morning and it's shy of 40 degrees while right next to my saved location is the sunny and 77 degrees at Virgin Islands National Park. I let out a big sigh, but simultaneously reminded myself that it's only a 40 degree difference today, whereas when I was down in February, it was a wild 80- and nearly 100 with wind chill- degree difference. It could be worse.
I guess I'll keep reminding myself that while I think spring is taking its merry time, it could be worse.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Patience comes in snow
I woke up to a fresh white blanket of snow where there had been no snow. Much to my surprise I was somewhat moved by the change of scenery over night. All winter long we complain about the snow. We curse the icy roads and those poor souls who "don't keep up with the weather" but are responsible for our travel safety. At the first thought of spring, which arrived in February this year, my fellow Iowans were jumping out of their boots and ready to get outside. Maybe it was because I missed the worst part of winter (remember, research) but I knew winter wasn't over quite yet. I kept my winter coat on, stayed bundled up in mittens and scarves and waited. This morning I was greeted by the snow I knew was coming.
It was comforting to me to know winter wasn't over. Why?! Well frankly, I'm just not ready. I'm not ready for spring. I don't think I'm even ready for spring break. I have piles of research articles that need to be read before spring; I have labs and tests that I'm not ready to do; I have overgrown house plants that need to be prepared for spring; I have a whole mess of last years pots, still full of soil and dead plants, that needs to be cleaned out. I'm just not ready. Usually I'm jumping up and down doing spring chants to get it here as fast as possible, but this year I'm working on my patience. I'm teaching myself to take life one day at a time, after all, it's all you really can do in grad school! I think if I learn to be patient with the never-ending season of snow I can be patient with myself and what I have yet to experience when I leave the university.
By the way, this was the view...
By the way, this was the view...
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Visual inspiration
It has been a struggle dealing with the events of this semester. It was a shot-gun semester, pulling together the plans for this research project during finals week in December and partly over winter break. The only class I had left to take was Stat. Dreaded Stat 401. So jumping into that and preparing for my trip in the first month of school was hectic. The trip and return from the trip provided its own issues and now after being back three weeks, I still feel caught in an odd state. Needless to say, I could use a little inspiration. I frequently pull up pictures of the Caribbean and reminisce.
The rhythmic waves immediately play in my head and I am taken back to that warm, sunny day at Cinnamon Bay.
The rhythmic waves immediately play in my head and I am taken back to that warm, sunny day at Cinnamon Bay.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Confession
Have I admitted yet that I'm not a gardening nanny at the present time? A literal nanny, that is. I'm still a gardening fool, don't get me wrong, I still work with kids too, I have just forfeited my nanny apron for awhile to pursue this thing called a Master of Science degree. Well, I was doing this before, but I was offered an actual research, paid, thesis-bound program. I accepted. During finals last semester. It has been full speed ahead ever since, requiring me to give up the kids I nannied. In a way they were my first experimental kids, being one and three at the time, I conditioned them to remember marigold. It was a big step. I was so proud.
The time has come for me to focus on other kids now, bigger groups of kids, kids who are a little older as well. While jumping in to this crazy semester and diving in to Statistics 401 and the wonderful world of research, I found myself in the US Virgin Islands. Yes, you read that correctly. I found myself needing to go to St. John for my research in early February (shucks). It was amazing, by the way, but what I was most amazed by was the school.
The school I visited and will be/am working with is the only K-12 school on the island. There are other elementary/middle schools on St. John but none that finish through high school. The kids were fascinating to watch and interact with and be around. They were curious and kind. They were smart and funny. They were still kids. I had the opportunity to go snorkeling with the senior environmental science class (yeah, snorkeling for class) and I was reminded that no matter where you are in the world, kids are still kids. Kids are still kids and they are still amazed by plants. I was blown away by the patio garden that was a lush green in February, but I was also blown away by the fact that kids were cutting up and eating swiss chard, kale, bok choy, peppers, and radishes raw! These are all scary green things that kids are somehow programed to stay away from and yet there they were, taking a sample platter around to their peers eating everything they could.
It really sunk in during those two weeks that kids are so much more open to trying new things when they are involved in the whole process. No one brought in mature bok choy from a remote location, plopped down on a bench and forced the kids to eat without knowing where it came from. These middle schoolers grew everything (almost) from seed, watered, sprayed, picked up after, took care of, and harvested it all themselves. They knew how much work went into getting every pepper, keeping every basil plant alive and they were anticipating the big reward. I was privileged to be there that day, not even the first harvest day, and it was just as rewarding for me.
The time has come for me to focus on other kids now, bigger groups of kids, kids who are a little older as well. While jumping in to this crazy semester and diving in to Statistics 401 and the wonderful world of research, I found myself in the US Virgin Islands. Yes, you read that correctly. I found myself needing to go to St. John for my research in early February (shucks). It was amazing, by the way, but what I was most amazed by was the school.
The school I visited and will be/am working with is the only K-12 school on the island. There are other elementary/middle schools on St. John but none that finish through high school. The kids were fascinating to watch and interact with and be around. They were curious and kind. They were smart and funny. They were still kids. I had the opportunity to go snorkeling with the senior environmental science class (yeah, snorkeling for class) and I was reminded that no matter where you are in the world, kids are still kids. Kids are still kids and they are still amazed by plants. I was blown away by the patio garden that was a lush green in February, but I was also blown away by the fact that kids were cutting up and eating swiss chard, kale, bok choy, peppers, and radishes raw! These are all scary green things that kids are somehow programed to stay away from and yet there they were, taking a sample platter around to their peers eating everything they could.
It really sunk in during those two weeks that kids are so much more open to trying new things when they are involved in the whole process. No one brought in mature bok choy from a remote location, plopped down on a bench and forced the kids to eat without knowing where it came from. These middle schoolers grew everything (almost) from seed, watered, sprayed, picked up after, took care of, and harvested it all themselves. They knew how much work went into getting every pepper, keeping every basil plant alive and they were anticipating the big reward. I was privileged to be there that day, not even the first harvest day, and it was just as rewarding for me.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Season finale, finally?
Garden season has ended. It's November. We are lucky thus far to have not be covered in a graceful blanket of winter white (I'm not complaining!). And it has been months since I have blogged. I have neglected to share the excitement of late summer and fall harvests. I have also neglected to take part in Halloween postings, post-harvest blunders, Farmer's Market season finales, and many other wonderful late season festivities.
The thing is, grad school has consumed much of my free time by wiping me of any and all spare energy that I once used for peaceful thinking. I have been left with little creative juices to spare.
Recap: The season was incredibly successful in our little community garden. We were overrun with cherry tomatoes, lemon cucumbers, and eggplant. All of which I opened my kitchen to with warm ovens! It was a fruitful experience (literally) and the B&GC and I benefited greatly. Most of the kids were able to see multiple stages of the garden and for their hard work, shared in the bountiful harvests. There were, however, a few things that did not do so well in our gardens. The corn was flattened by the wind at one point and never successfully recovered and from which, we saw very few ears, none of which I consumed. Pumpkins were non-existent. I was ever careful to order cute little white pumpkins that the kids would be able to share. We were graced with a few melons. I quickly learned that the mini watermelons we were growing were quick to expire. There was more than one occasion I bit into a juicy looking watermelon to realize it was actually far overripe and NOT refreshing!
Our season finale came in the form of a B&GC-themed scarecrow! The kids stuffed and filled a B&GC shirt and used spent corn stalks and sunflower heads to decorate the Iowa Arboretum for their fall festivities. It turned out spectacularly. I was quite proud to say my kids grew (some) of the scarecrow's stuffs. It was the most appropriate way I could think of to end the season. The kids saw the roundabout way gardens work, and had fun doing it.
Although I neglected to share in the festivities, it was incredibly rewarding to see another season through. I guess it's time to get out the seed catalogs again and make a cup of hot coco as we wait for the great white of winter, if you're so lucky.
The thing is, grad school has consumed much of my free time by wiping me of any and all spare energy that I once used for peaceful thinking. I have been left with little creative juices to spare.
Recap: The season was incredibly successful in our little community garden. We were overrun with cherry tomatoes, lemon cucumbers, and eggplant. All of which I opened my kitchen to with warm ovens! It was a fruitful experience (literally) and the B&GC and I benefited greatly. Most of the kids were able to see multiple stages of the garden and for their hard work, shared in the bountiful harvests. There were, however, a few things that did not do so well in our gardens. The corn was flattened by the wind at one point and never successfully recovered and from which, we saw very few ears, none of which I consumed. Pumpkins were non-existent. I was ever careful to order cute little white pumpkins that the kids would be able to share. We were graced with a few melons. I quickly learned that the mini watermelons we were growing were quick to expire. There was more than one occasion I bit into a juicy looking watermelon to realize it was actually far overripe and NOT refreshing!
Our season finale came in the form of a B&GC-themed scarecrow! The kids stuffed and filled a B&GC shirt and used spent corn stalks and sunflower heads to decorate the Iowa Arboretum for their fall festivities. It turned out spectacularly. I was quite proud to say my kids grew (some) of the scarecrow's stuffs. It was the most appropriate way I could think of to end the season. The kids saw the roundabout way gardens work, and had fun doing it.
Although I neglected to share in the festivities, it was incredibly rewarding to see another season through. I guess it's time to get out the seed catalogs again and make a cup of hot coco as we wait for the great white of winter, if you're so lucky.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Daylily do's
Has it been three months? In fact is has. I have been doing plenty of gardening and my fair share of nannying during my unintended absence. Really, I have. Today, however, I learned something very important that I couldn't resist sharing.
The wee ones and I were outside playing before lunch, you know, before it was so unbearably hot and we were so unbearably crabby to be outside. Little Miss decided to help the daylily out and do a little deadheading. The kids have always had a fascination with flowers, especially removing them from their natural location on the plant, but regardless, a fascination. For the most part little Miss was actually doing a good job deadheading, pulling off spent flowers and throwing them in the driveway. Little Mister was running around cleaning his car with a special car cleaning potion I whipped up in the kitchen sink (strangely has the same composition as water!) but stopped to see what we were looking at over by the daylily. I showed him that we can pull out the old, dried up flower stems and this was the most magical discovery!
Suddenly we had wood to build a jail (for me, naturally), drum sticks, things to be sprayed by our special car cleaner, and weapons to jab each other with (joy). For the remainder of our play time, before we were all so hungry we couldn't stand it, those 'things' entertained all three of us.
For kids who live where nature consists of a daylily in the front yard, playtime can still be fun and exciting. Daylilies can be an adventure! Finding out that plants serve a dual purpose when you're three is an amazing discovery and one not to be taken lightly. Our pile of 'things' will probably dissipate and not be there the next time I come back, but the curiosity will still be there. Knowing I can be there to egg on that curiosity will leave me fulfilled and will leave them with tools for future exploration.
The wee ones and I were outside playing before lunch, you know, before it was so unbearably hot and we were so unbearably crabby to be outside. Little Miss decided to help the daylily out and do a little deadheading. The kids have always had a fascination with flowers, especially removing them from their natural location on the plant, but regardless, a fascination. For the most part little Miss was actually doing a good job deadheading, pulling off spent flowers and throwing them in the driveway. Little Mister was running around cleaning his car with a special car cleaning potion I whipped up in the kitchen sink (strangely has the same composition as water!) but stopped to see what we were looking at over by the daylily. I showed him that we can pull out the old, dried up flower stems and this was the most magical discovery!
Suddenly we had wood to build a jail (for me, naturally), drum sticks, things to be sprayed by our special car cleaner, and weapons to jab each other with (joy). For the remainder of our play time, before we were all so hungry we couldn't stand it, those 'things' entertained all three of us.
For kids who live where nature consists of a daylily in the front yard, playtime can still be fun and exciting. Daylilies can be an adventure! Finding out that plants serve a dual purpose when you're three is an amazing discovery and one not to be taken lightly. Our pile of 'things' will probably dissipate and not be there the next time I come back, but the curiosity will still be there. Knowing I can be there to egg on that curiosity will leave me fulfilled and will leave them with tools for future exploration.
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