So some of you may have been wondering why there have been no recent post. Well, it has been a whirlwind of a couple of months as Rob and I(Jackie), co-founders of AGS have decided to get married. We are getting married in October and did not want a long engagement so that we can continue to focus on our dream of opening Austin Green School. We are continuously amazed at all of the support we get through email from those of you we have not yet met in person and from our friends and family. Everyone seems to be so excited about the possibilities AGS will bring to our children and the community. We still have our highest hopes of opening on a very small scale Fall 2013! Now that most of the wedding planning is done we will start back with more blogpost to keep you informed, enlightened and to share information that we think is cool :0) Thank you all we are truly grateful for the encouragement and support!
Love & Light
Jackie
Innovative, investigative and project-based with an emphasis on spirituality, sustainability and personal wellness practices. AGS is also inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach to education.
Coming Soon
Austin Green School is in the beginning stages of development and planning. We hope to open our doors by fall 2013. Our school will be kinder through high school with the possibility of an early childhood center.
If you are interested in helping us in any way please email us at info@austingreenschool.com.
In the mean time please enjoy our blog as we make public our efforts and experiences.
We know the road ahead will be filled with many challenges but we are determined to give the community of Austin
the gift of a progressive educational community. Wish us luck!
If you are interested in helping us in any way please email us at info@austingreenschool.com.
In the mean time please enjoy our blog as we make public our efforts and experiences.
We know the road ahead will be filled with many challenges but we are determined to give the community of Austin
the gift of a progressive educational community. Wish us luck!
Thursday, July 12, 2012
Monday, April 9, 2012
Gardening with Children From Eartheasy.com
I came across this article from Eartheasy.com and think it will be very helpful when we start our garden at AGS. Enjoy!
Gardening with Children
Children are natural gardeners.
They're curious, like
to learn by doing, and love to play in the dirt.
Working in a garden, a child can experience the satisfaction that comes from caring for something over time, while observing the cycle of life firsthand.
Gardening gives children a chance to learn an important life skill, one that is overlooked in standard school curriculums. Gardening is also a great way to teach environmental awareness by exploring the workings of nature.
Working in a garden, a child can experience the satisfaction that comes from caring for something over time, while observing the cycle of life firsthand.
Gardening gives children a chance to learn an important life skill, one that is overlooked in standard school curriculums. Gardening is also a great way to teach environmental awareness by exploring the workings of nature.
Our children were involved with gardening from an early age, and
it was gratifying to watch their interest and self-esteem grow as their
gardening efforts yielded good results. Although there are many crops suitable
for the young gardener, here are our "top 10", which are relatively easy to grow, have short growing
seasons and are fun to harvest.
sunflower
A must for a child's garden. Plant just one or two, since they take a lot of room. Sunflowers will sprout in 1 week, become a small seedling in 2 weeks, and should be 2' tall in a month. In 8 weeks, the buds will flower revealing hundreds of seed kernels. Be sure to gorw 'confectionery' sunflowers, the type grown for food. They will dry naturally in the late summer sun; the seeds, rich in protein and iron, can be roasted for snacks. Save a few for next summers' planting.
lettuce/mescluns
A quick and reliable crop to give the child fast results, and also a good way to interest kids in salads. Lettuce likes part shade; keep soil moist especially during the first two weeks. The seeds will germinate in 7-10 days; growing season is 40-50 days. You can grow 'head' (space 8" apart) or 'leaf' (space 4" apart) varieties; the leaf varieties will mature sooner, about 30-35 days.
radishes
Quick results for the young gardener. Radishes germinate in 3-10 days, and have a very short growing season of 20-30 days. They can be planted closely, 4-6" apart. Plant in cool weather for a mild radish, or hot weather for a hotter radish.
snow peas
A quick-growing early crop, and fun for kids to eat right off the vine. They take about 10 days to germinate and mature in about 60 days. Peas prefer cooler, partially shaded locations in the garden; they should be sown closely, about 1" apart at most. Snow peas are popular because the pod is edible and since they are a dwarf plant they can be grown without a trellis.
cherry tomatoes
Gotta have 'em! These may be the most fun crop for a child, aside from strawberries. Plant in full sun and use seedlings rather than planting from seed. Put in a 2' stake alongside each seedling; they need to be tied loosely to stakes as they get taller. Add lots of compost. Water at ground level, trying to keep leaves dry. Growing season is 50-75 days. Cherry tomatoes can also be grown in containers.
A must for a child's garden. Plant just one or two, since they take a lot of room. Sunflowers will sprout in 1 week, become a small seedling in 2 weeks, and should be 2' tall in a month. In 8 weeks, the buds will flower revealing hundreds of seed kernels. Be sure to gorw 'confectionery' sunflowers, the type grown for food. They will dry naturally in the late summer sun; the seeds, rich in protein and iron, can be roasted for snacks. Save a few for next summers' planting.
lettuce/mescluns
A quick and reliable crop to give the child fast results, and also a good way to interest kids in salads. Lettuce likes part shade; keep soil moist especially during the first two weeks. The seeds will germinate in 7-10 days; growing season is 40-50 days. You can grow 'head' (space 8" apart) or 'leaf' (space 4" apart) varieties; the leaf varieties will mature sooner, about 30-35 days.
radishes
Quick results for the young gardener. Radishes germinate in 3-10 days, and have a very short growing season of 20-30 days. They can be planted closely, 4-6" apart. Plant in cool weather for a mild radish, or hot weather for a hotter radish.
snow peas
A quick-growing early crop, and fun for kids to eat right off the vine. They take about 10 days to germinate and mature in about 60 days. Peas prefer cooler, partially shaded locations in the garden; they should be sown closely, about 1" apart at most. Snow peas are popular because the pod is edible and since they are a dwarf plant they can be grown without a trellis.
cherry tomatoes
Gotta have 'em! These may be the most fun crop for a child, aside from strawberries. Plant in full sun and use seedlings rather than planting from seed. Put in a 2' stake alongside each seedling; they need to be tied loosely to stakes as they get taller. Add lots of compost. Water at ground level, trying to keep leaves dry. Growing season is 50-75 days. Cherry tomatoes can also be grown in containers.
Child's Wheelbarrow
Our children deserve the best gardening tools. Here's a beautiful, sturdy wheelbarrow you can build yourself. This project is also a great parent/child activity. Click here for the plans.
nasturtiums
These flowers are easy to grow and yield results quickly, which encourages the young gardener. Nasturtiums bloom about 50 days after the seeds are planted, with orange, yellow and red flowers. They prefer sunny, dry locations and do well in poor soil. Choose the shorter varieties for garden beds. Nasturtiums are also pest resistant, which ensures a successful planting. The flowers are also edible, and can be used to add colour to a fresh garden salad.
bush beans
Fast, easy, high yield and, because they do not grow tall, they are easy for kids to harvest. Bush beans germinate in 4-8 days, and mature in 40-65 days. It's best to plant a small patch, then another in a few weeks. This will extend the harvest. When choosing seeds, select the "low bush" varieties because these will be easier for children to harvest. Plant closely spaced, about 4" apart. Grow in direct sun; water the soil but try to keep the leaves dry. Bush beans don't need poles or trellises to grow.
carrots
Seeds can be sown directly into soil; carrots prefer cooler temperatures. They can be slow to germinate, so be patient. Carrots will mature in about 60 days.The soil should be free of rocks and easy for the carrot to grow 'down'. Keep well-watered and thin to every 3" because crowding will produce foliage but no root. Small varieties are recommended for children, as they're easier to grow and more fun to eat.
potatoes
A 'never-fail' crop. You can plant red or white varieties; red will mature faster. Children seem to favor the red variety. Cut seed potatoes into chunks with at least 2 'eyes' per. Plant in furrows, about 12-15" apart, with eyes pointing upward. Mound soil up around plant as it grows; harvest when plant collapses.
pumpkin
A 'must' for a child's garden, if you have the room. Plant seeds in a small hill; poke three holes in the hill and put one seed in each hole. Seeds will sprout in about 1 week; after a few days, vine leaves begin to form and creep along the ground. Once there are 3 pumpkins on the vine, pick off any new blossoms. Pumpkins take 80 - 120 days to harvest: it's ready when it feels hard on the outside and sounds hollow when tapped. Let an adult supervise the cutting, using shears. Seeds can be dried to eat, or save for future planting. The meat can be used for pies, and the pumpkin for carving.
other crops our children have tried, but had mixed results:
corn - a heavy feeder, corn needs lots of compost or fertilizer, and requires a lot of growing space in relation to the size of the harvest. If the plants aren't "knee high by the 4th of July", the ears will be small. In our garden, either the crows got the seedlings, or the plants just never got big enough to yield a good harvest.
green onions - easy to grow, but not all that exciting.
zucchini - easy, fast, and impressive size, but it takes a good recipe to get children excited about zucchini.
strawberries - great, but can be a struggle with the predators. We chose the 'ever-bearing' strawberry varieties which have smaller fruit but which bear all summer. Netting the plants from the birds and raccoons, however, was a constant chore which the young children often forgot. Birds became caught in the strawberry netting, which was never fun.
watermelon - similar to pumpkins to grow. They have to be well grown to be large and tasty. In our experience, the fruit was smaller than expected and not very sweet. We prefer to give the space to pumpkins.
Tips for gardening with children
These flowers are easy to grow and yield results quickly, which encourages the young gardener. Nasturtiums bloom about 50 days after the seeds are planted, with orange, yellow and red flowers. They prefer sunny, dry locations and do well in poor soil. Choose the shorter varieties for garden beds. Nasturtiums are also pest resistant, which ensures a successful planting. The flowers are also edible, and can be used to add colour to a fresh garden salad.
bush beans
Fast, easy, high yield and, because they do not grow tall, they are easy for kids to harvest. Bush beans germinate in 4-8 days, and mature in 40-65 days. It's best to plant a small patch, then another in a few weeks. This will extend the harvest. When choosing seeds, select the "low bush" varieties because these will be easier for children to harvest. Plant closely spaced, about 4" apart. Grow in direct sun; water the soil but try to keep the leaves dry. Bush beans don't need poles or trellises to grow.
carrots
Seeds can be sown directly into soil; carrots prefer cooler temperatures. They can be slow to germinate, so be patient. Carrots will mature in about 60 days.The soil should be free of rocks and easy for the carrot to grow 'down'. Keep well-watered and thin to every 3" because crowding will produce foliage but no root. Small varieties are recommended for children, as they're easier to grow and more fun to eat.
potatoes
A 'never-fail' crop. You can plant red or white varieties; red will mature faster. Children seem to favor the red variety. Cut seed potatoes into chunks with at least 2 'eyes' per. Plant in furrows, about 12-15" apart, with eyes pointing upward. Mound soil up around plant as it grows; harvest when plant collapses.
pumpkin
A 'must' for a child's garden, if you have the room. Plant seeds in a small hill; poke three holes in the hill and put one seed in each hole. Seeds will sprout in about 1 week; after a few days, vine leaves begin to form and creep along the ground. Once there are 3 pumpkins on the vine, pick off any new blossoms. Pumpkins take 80 - 120 days to harvest: it's ready when it feels hard on the outside and sounds hollow when tapped. Let an adult supervise the cutting, using shears. Seeds can be dried to eat, or save for future planting. The meat can be used for pies, and the pumpkin for carving.
other crops our children have tried, but had mixed results:
corn - a heavy feeder, corn needs lots of compost or fertilizer, and requires a lot of growing space in relation to the size of the harvest. If the plants aren't "knee high by the 4th of July", the ears will be small. In our garden, either the crows got the seedlings, or the plants just never got big enough to yield a good harvest.
green onions - easy to grow, but not all that exciting.
zucchini - easy, fast, and impressive size, but it takes a good recipe to get children excited about zucchini.
strawberries - great, but can be a struggle with the predators. We chose the 'ever-bearing' strawberry varieties which have smaller fruit but which bear all summer. Netting the plants from the birds and raccoons, however, was a constant chore which the young children often forgot. Birds became caught in the strawberry netting, which was never fun.
watermelon - similar to pumpkins to grow. They have to be well grown to be large and tasty. In our experience, the fruit was smaller than expected and not very sweet. We prefer to give the space to pumpkins.
Tips for gardening with children
Give them their own garden beds. Whether
you use raised beds, containers or ground plots, be sure to give each child his
or her own separate plot. Keep it small, very small for young kids. Put their
plots right in the middle of the action, with the best soil and light. Set them
up for success.
Reuse the sandbox. If your children have grown past their sandbox years, consider converting the old sandbox to a garden bed. This gives the child continued 'ownership' of a familiar space and encourages a sense of responsibility to the gardening project. Of course, a productive garden bed needs to be in good sunlight and soil should be free of tree roots. It may be necessary to relocate the sandbox if growing conditions are less than ideal.
Reuse the sandbox. If your children have grown past their sandbox years, consider converting the old sandbox to a garden bed. This gives the child continued 'ownership' of a familiar space and encourages a sense of responsibility to the gardening project. Of course, a productive garden bed needs to be in good sunlight and soil should be free of tree roots. It may be necessary to relocate the sandbox if growing conditions are less than ideal.
Give them serious tools.
Cheap plastic child's gardening tools are worse than no tools at all; they
break easily and frustrate the user. It can be hard to locate good tools for
kids, especially work gloves that fit a small hand. With some garden tools,
like a hoe or spade, you can easily saw the handle shorter. Let them use your
tools if need be; in this way you're acknowledging the importance of the work
they're doing.
Engage them through the entire process, from
seed to table. Children learn better when they
understand the context of their activity. They will learn that gardening can be
fun, but far more than idle play; they are contributing to the family
well-being. Besides planting and nurturing their garden beds, be sure they
alone do the harvesting and preparation of their crop for the table, no matter
how modest the offering.
Start from seeds. While it's a convenient shortcut to buy starters, children will learn more by seeing the growing process as it begins, from seed. The care given to sprouting seeds and nurturing the young seedling are a valuable part of the gardening experience. Seeds will need to be started indoors in a warm room and once sprouted they can be transplanted into pots until ready to set out, or they can be placed into a cold frame which is set on top of the garden bed.
Cheat a little. Depending on the age of the child, you may need to help out a little 'behind the scene'. Not every garden task is pleasant, and the child may not be ready at all times for all chores. You may need to go out in the evening to pick a few slugs off the lettuce, or be the one to run out and move the sprinkler. They don't have to know about every little help you offer - the child's 'ownership' of the plot is the main thing.
Start from seeds. While it's a convenient shortcut to buy starters, children will learn more by seeing the growing process as it begins, from seed. The care given to sprouting seeds and nurturing the young seedling are a valuable part of the gardening experience. Seeds will need to be started indoors in a warm room and once sprouted they can be transplanted into pots until ready to set out, or they can be placed into a cold frame which is set on top of the garden bed.
Cheat a little. Depending on the age of the child, you may need to help out a little 'behind the scene'. Not every garden task is pleasant, and the child may not be ready at all times for all chores. You may need to go out in the evening to pick a few slugs off the lettuce, or be the one to run out and move the sprinkler. They don't have to know about every little help you offer - the child's 'ownership' of the plot is the main thing.
When all else fails, make a scarecrow. The best time to engage children in gardening is when they're in
the mood for this activity. If their attention wanes, or the garden tasks
become boring, let them build a scarecrow. This activity is still a
contribution to the gardening effort and adds another layer of interest to the
garden scene. It also reminds the child of the importance of the garden crops.
Show off their work.
When giving 'garden tours' to friends, be sure to point out the children's
beds. Take a photo of their harvest and send it to the grandparents. The
attention given to their work is the best motivator for children to stay
involved with a project.
Resources for young gardeners
The Great Plant Escape - this is a great primer on gardening written for children; follow the clues and learn the plant growing basics.
My First Garden - a wonderful site from the University of Illinois. All you need to know about getting started with your first garden in a fun and kid-friendly way.
The Adventure of Herman the Worm - Activities, games, and linfo.
KinderGARDEN - Has many links and resources for teaching children about gardening. Check out the fun page and the book list.
Pumpkin Circle - Educational pumpking-growing activities for kids for home or school.
The Kids Garden - Creative children's gardening ideas from the UK
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Spirituality in Education
Spirituality in Education
"What transforms
education, is a
transformed being in the world." Parker Palmer |
A more 'soulful' education seeks to open the mind, warm the heart and awaken the spirit of each student. It would provide opportunities for students to be creative, contemplative, and imaginative. It allows time to tell old and new stories of heroes, ideals and transformation. It encourage students to go deep into themselves, into nature, and into human affairs. It values service to others and the planet.
A spiritualized curriculum values physical, mental and spiritual knowledge and skills. It presents knowledge within cultural and temporal contexts, rather than as facts to be memorized or dogma to be followed. It is integrative across all disciplines emphasizing inter-relationship and inter-connectedness. It challenges students to find their own place in space and time, and to reach for the highest aspirations of the human spirit.
Books on Spirituality and
Spirituality in Education
| Zohar, D & Marshall, I. (2000). SQ: Connecting With Our Spiritual Intelligence. New York: Bloomsbury Publishing |
Walsh, Roger.
(1999)
Essential
Spirituality. New
York: John Wiley
|
Sloan, D. (1983) Insight-Imagination. Westport,
CT:Greenwood Press
|
|
Sinetar, M. (2000) Spiritual Intelligence: What We Can Learn
From The Early Awakening Child. New York: Orbis
|
Palmer,
Parker (1983) To Know As We Are
Known: A Spirituality of
Education. New
York:Harper Collins.
|
Moffet, J. (1994). The
Universal Schoolhouse: Spiritual
Awakening Through Education, San Francisco: Jossey-Bass Publishers
|
| Moore, T. (1994) Care of the Soul: A Guide for Cultivating Depth and Sacredness in Everyday Life. New York: HarperPerennial |
Moore, T. (2000)
Original
Self: Living with Paradox and Originality. New York: HarperCollins
|
Miller, J.P.
(1994) The Contemplative
Practitioner. Toronto:
OISE Press
|
|
Kessler, R. (2000) The
Soul of Education: Helping Students Find Connection, Compassion, and
Character at School Virginia:
ASCD
|
Glazer, Steven.
(1999)
The Heart of Learning: Spirituality in
Education.
New York: Tarcher/Putnam
|
Brussat, F. and M.
(1996)
Spiritual Literacy: Reading the
Sacred in Everyday Life. New York: Scribner
|
|
Pearmain, E.D. (Ed.) (1998) Doorways to the Soul: 52 Wisdom Tales
From Around The World Ohio: The Pilgrim
Press
|
Grof, C. (1993). The Thirst for Wholeness: Attachment,
Addiction and the Spiritual Path. San Francisco: HarperSan Francisco.
|
Tacey, David (2000)
Re-Enchantment: The New
Australian Spirituality. Sydney:HarperCollins
|
|
Palmer,
Parker (1998) The Courage to Teach: Exploring the inner landscape of a
teacher's life. San
Francisco: Jossey Bass.
|
Miller, John P. (2000) Education and the Soul: Toward a Spiritual
Curriculum. State University of New York Press
|
Nakagawa, Yoshiharu (2000)
Education for Awakening An
Eastern Approach to Holistic Education
Foundation for educational Renewal,
Brandon, VT
|
|
Nava, Ramon Gallegos.
Holistic Education: Pedagogy
of Universal Love
Great Ideas in Education
Box 328, Brandon, VT (Translated by Madeline Newman Rios and Gregory S. Miller) |
Miller, J & Nakagawa, Y (eds)
Nurturing Our Wholeness
Perspectives on Spirituality in Education Psychology Press/Holistic Education Press Box 328, Brandon, VT |
Sunday, February 5, 2012
As simple as ABC: Going Green in Education
As Simple as ABC: Going Green in Education
by GreenInHygiene on February 1, 2012
We already put money into our schools and they are doing just fine.
Why do they need more money?
We are already putting money into our schools, this is true, but our schools are not fine. Take a look at these staggering statistics:
- 60% of US schools have major building features in disrepair
- 33% of America’s schools have buildings in need of extensive repair or replacement
- 43% of schools have unsatisfactory indoor environmental conditions
- 20% of schools have unsatisfactory indoor air quality
Okay, so they need help… But why should I support “greening” my school?
Isn’t that more investment than it’s worth?
Looking for more of a reason than to set a good example for 85 million students while keeping them in a healthier environment? Take a look at these statistics from the Green Schools Leadership Center:
- Green schools may cost less than 2% more than conventional schools (about $3 per square foot) but they provide financial benefits that are 20 times as large
- A green school saves an average of $100,000 annually – enough to hire 2 new teachers, buy 250 new computers, or purchase 5000 new textbooks
- Teacher Retention increases by an average of 3% and teachers experience a 7% decrease in sick days
- Test scores and learning ability improves on average 3-5% – equating to an annual earning increase of $532 per student
Yes! The statistics are right there and they’ve been verified. Green schools have more benefits and a higher ROI than we give them credit for, even starting with something seemingly small like recycling more.
Fantastic! How do I get started greening my school?
Since energy and electricity are some of the biggest environmental bullies, we suggest starting by looking at your energy systems and electric appliances and then moving on from there.
- Do you have any renewable energy systems – do you have a good spot for a couple of solar panels?
- Are you recycling all the materials you can recycle (plastic, aluminum, paper, cardboard, glass, batteries etc.) and are you incorporating recycled materials into your everyday processes?
- Which areas in your building require the most electricity or energy and are there products out there to reduce the amount you are using?
- What types of foods are served in your cafeteria or dining areas and could more fresh or organic produce be used?
- What are you doing with the property around your school building? Is there space for an educational school garden? Could you replace some of the recreational equipment with certified “green” playground equipment?
What types of products of services should I be looking into?
Products and services which feature recycled materials, energy reduction, are biodegradable or can be recycled themselves are a great start. The reason green schools save so much money each year is that they reduce the amount of energy, electricity and water used while also providing a way to use renewable energy sources. In terms of hand hygiene and restroom hygiene, Workplace Essentials strives to be a green leader with its innovative products and services which are perfect for educational institutions.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
More ideas for sustainability
As we continue to develop AGS one thing
that we continue to research is ways that we can use recycled materials and promote sustainability. Tonight I
will share with you some images and ideas that we find inspiring for this
journey.
| Rain water to garden hose |
| Natural Homemade Glue |
| Use bamboo for a sustainable material |
| Wall of Recycling |
| Reduce, Reuse, Recycle mural made from recycled materials |
| Recycled and natural materials |
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Happy New Year!
Hello,
We hope everyone enjoyed the holidays! We have been very busy working on the business plan for AGS and we even found a possible location for the school! This is very exciting news for us but we are currently under a non-disclosure and can not reveal any specific info about it right now. However, I will tell you is that the location is in South Austin and is surrounded by beautiful trees. It will probably be a while before we know if this is going to be the home of Austin Green School but in the mean time please send us positive thoughts and vibes as we try to negotiate this deal!
I also want to thank everyone who came out to the benefit show last month for your support. It was so nice to see so many familiar faces and new ones too! We raised some money for AGS and St. Jude's and hopefully spread the word about our school to some new families. A special thanks to Katy Papper and David Winchester who organized the event. Well done!
Please enjoy the photos from the event
We hope everyone enjoyed the holidays! We have been very busy working on the business plan for AGS and we even found a possible location for the school! This is very exciting news for us but we are currently under a non-disclosure and can not reveal any specific info about it right now. However, I will tell you is that the location is in South Austin and is surrounded by beautiful trees. It will probably be a while before we know if this is going to be the home of Austin Green School but in the mean time please send us positive thoughts and vibes as we try to negotiate this deal!
I also want to thank everyone who came out to the benefit show last month for your support. It was so nice to see so many familiar faces and new ones too! We raised some money for AGS and St. Jude's and hopefully spread the word about our school to some new families. A special thanks to Katy Papper and David Winchester who organized the event. Well done!
Please enjoy the photos from the event
Labels:
Benefit Show,
business plan
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
AGS Benefit Show!
Great News! AGS will be participating in a benefit show at Ruta Maya Thursday, December 15. There will be great music, drinks and all proceeds will go towards St. Jude Hospital and Austin Green School. Tickets are $10 at the door, $9 goes towards St. Jude research and $1 goes to AGS from each ticket. This is a great way for us to promote our school as well as support a great cause. Please help by spreading the word and joining us for a night of fun!
Here is a sneak peak at the poster we created about AGS. Come check it out in person at the benefit!
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