Progress and plastic cup pyramids

In spite of marauding rabbits and getting a late start, we're seeing the garden mature - there are tiny,                            green pumpkins,  green tomatoes, ears of corn setting on, and we're cutting spinach! The oregano and basil that struggled in our experimental gunny sacks are looking good, also!      

Last week we talked about painting the box for the lasagna garden.  Our plan was
 to prime it this week, and paint next. When we got to the garden this morning, it was chilly and damp. We debated a bit, but decided to go ahead. That turned out to be a good decision as it warmed up and skies cleared after about the first hour.

 Our discussion on relationships started with a game - each of us held a piece of  yarn that was tied to a rubber band. Our group task was to grab a plastic cup with the rubber band and move it, until we had 10 cups built into a pyramid.  Sound easy?

It was...at first. Then, the wind blew the tower over, then we knocked it over. To our surprise (and dismay!) one cup fell right inside the other. THAT one took some time and patience!

At one point, one member of our group simply grabbed the cups and put them where they needed to be. DONE! 

We laughed and then talked about how important it was to be able to communicate clearly with each other so that we were able to work together successfully in order to build the pyramid. Just so, it's important to communicate clearly in relationships to avoid misunderstandings.

We also talked about how many times something unexpected knocked down our "garden pyramid". It was easy to make analogies between our gardening experiences and the rather fragile pyramid.

In this short video you'll laugh at how many communication mistakes are made. See how many you can count!                http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1RY_72O_LQ

Bugs, Weeds, Rabbits and Colors

 

RAIN! WE GOT RAIN LAST NIGHT!

Today we woke up to cloudy skies and MORE RAIN!
We weren't sure if we'd be able to get into the garden or not, but after the last couple of summers we won't complain about rain!

 As it turned out, we did get into the garden. We're getting to the time of year when we're doing basic maintenance care - pulling weeds (nobody's favorite job), continuing to lay newspaper and mulch, and finishing signs in our animal plant space.



We talked about pests in the garden - bugs, weeds, and this year our biggest pest...rabbits.

Next year we'll make little fences around everything to discourage the rabbits who have happily feasted on many tender little plants this year.

As for insects, we talked about beneficial insects and looked at pictures. We recognized some of them, and were surprised that some are insects that we would have thought were harmful to our plants. One of the

favorites, because of the name, is the   Assassin Bug.

Using insecticides will control problem insects, but kills indiscriminately and will also kill beneficial insects. We talked about home-made remedies, knocking the munchers off the plants and the help of insects who prey on the insects who eat the garden.

We also talked about the benefits of bio-diversity in the garden to invite in the helpful insects, and planting to take advantage of plants that help discourage harmful insects.

As for weeds, again we could use a chemical, but are using less lethal methods. We pick weeds, put down newspaper and mulch, and use raised beds.              

Making signs for the catmint and tickseed coreopsis

In our relationship discussion we filled out a personality assessment that     describes personalities by color. It was fun to discover the differences in our personalities, and to guess who in our families fit which color.                                 

Those different traits can "bug" us,  we can be think the other person is a "pest", but understanding the different personality styles can be helpful in building healthy relationships. Instead of reacting in anger we can learn to appreciate the strengths of another.

We're thankful for the rain, and for the varied colors of our personalities that make life full and fun!

Here's a link to a fun website with tons of info on beneficial insects - happy bugging!
http://www.kathimitchell.com/insects.html

Here's some info on personality traits,how your personality can grow/change and how your personality can affect others:

http://examples.yourdictionary.com/examples-of-personality-traits.html 

Boundaries

July 7, 2013


Our focus for today was "boundaries." We have some boundaries in the garden...the large planters and rocks that define part of the garden space, the edging in parts of the garden, the pathway, and the raised beds. But boy, do we need more of them in the garden! It's hard to see in this picture, but there is a little stick - it's what's left of a cucumber plant in the top of one of the bags. A few days ago there were 6 or 7 cucumber plants around the top. Now, there's one little stick.


Rabbits have nibbled on the corn and there are a few tender, young corn stalks completely gone.


What we've learned is that next year we  need more boundaries - a short fence around 

the corn, and chicken wire over every tender, little sprout!



For the time being, we have happy rabbits, and a challenge to get creative to fill in the blank spaces.

Stephanie found a great project for flowers that critters won't be able to eat. They're made out of soda cans. They shine in the sunlight and move with the breeze. 

 It was fun and fairly easy. We have some creative double blooms,
fancy petal shapes and centers made from glass or wooden beads, or a circle cut out of the aluminum can. Attaching the flowers to the dowel stems was a little challenging, but with a little experimenting we got it done!

       

Even our youngest visitors got it done with a little help from grandpa and grandma.

                                                   

TA DA!

                

Lisa, from DOVES led a discussion about the importance of boundaries in our relationships. She told us that each person has a right to determine their own boundaries and that they need to communicate those to others. 

She led us through an exercise to demonstrate that each person has different boundaries - and that's ok!

So, week 5 of Hands for Growing, 2013. Early rain that kept us out of the garden and hungry rabbits have slowed us down a bit, but with good humor, work, play and creativity we see the growth of our garden and our friendships.

  

For more on boundaries in relationships go to:   http://www.pamf.org/teen/abc/buildingblocks/boundaries.html

 

 

Want to see a BUNCH of creative garden boundary ideas?

https://www.google.com/search?q=creative+garden+edging+ideas&rlz=1C1RNNN_enUS366US545&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=wtTnUdCNM-zUyQG3-IHYCA&ved=0CC8QsAQ&biw=1366&bih=617



Recognizing Signs

June 26, 2013

Today we worked on making signs to identify plants in the "animal named plants" section. In that section we have zebra grass, bee balm, horseradish (we hope! We're waiting for the root to sprout.), catmint, sea urchin grass (blue fescue), tickseed coreopsis, dusty miller, buffalo grass, tiny dino lilies, songbird bunting columbine, lambs ear, snapdragons and hens & chicks.                     

We hope to create a more welcoming garden by making the signs to identify plants.

Speaking of animals, there were 2 rabbits in the garden when I arrived. They were pretty bold in how close they let me get! They did finish off the young cantaloupe. It's getting too late in the season to find more plants so we'll have to get creative in that part of the garden. Pinterest, here we come!

Whew!

A ton of work got done today!


Planting corn

We talked about needing a good foundation, healthy soil, for the plants - and then went to work.

One project was to build the "lasagna" garden. Layers of green and brown compostable materials, with a good amount of water on each layer,  which will decompose into luxuriant soil!

Layer 1- cardboard & newspaper - brown material

Layer of grass - green material

Another brown layer, more paper

And everybody's favorite layer, kitchen scraps....

and manure.

Tearing up the paper for the layers was even more fun than anticipated! I think this group can make anything fun.



Checking out the ads and articles

                       The other project was putting together the burlap growing bags. We laughed because  they ended up having unanticipated, funny bumps.

The bag in the foreground has a Bhudda belly. :)

After all the layering and bag building we planted. Our young gardeners brought the little seedlings they had been caring for at home and they went into the bags & the lasagna garden.

Planting the bags was a learning experience! There's a bit of trick to it, but they're planted and ready to grow!

(And in all the busyness of planting I forgot to get pictures of the finished product!) 

We have a good foundation for the garden, now, what about good foundations for relationships? Giant puzzles illustrated what it takes to put that together for healthy relationships.

If you ask our group about it they'll tell you that all the pieces are important and that if one piece is missing the good foundation isn't complete.

This is a longer than normal post, but there was just so much going on today at Hands for Growing. In the middle of all the work, dirt and sweat there was laughter and a pride in all that was accomplished. 

We're off and growing! 

Here's a great site for more on good foundations for healthy relationships for teens:  http://www.pamf.org/teen/abc/buildingblocks/

And, more info about healthy soil as a good foundation for a garden, and on lasagna gardens:
http://www.kidsgardening.org/node/21, 

Thanks to the Sidney Sun Telegraph for a nice article in the Saturday, May 25 edition!

Any young person who will be going into 7th-9th grade is welcome to join Hands for Growing.

A registration form can be obtained by calling 254-2828, ask for Pat - or by e-mailing at stpatsyouth@live.com - or messaging on facebook at Sidney St. Patrick's Youth Group.

Adults who would like to help can also find out more at any of the above contacts.

Our first meeting date is Wed., June 5 - growing a beautiful garden, growing fun and healthy relationships!

Get Ready, Get Set.....GROW!

It's May 24 and we're just a couple of weeks away from the official start of the 2013 Hands for Growing season!

One way to keep relationships fresh and fun is to try new things! This summer we'll try a couple of new things in the garden as well.

One of them will be to use burlap bags for growing containers. The method we will use has been used successfully in Africa where soil may be poor and water at a premium. This method has allowed families to grow a lot  of healthy food in a small space. Some families have been able to sell their food also, generating much needed income.

Posted below are a few pictures of successful burlap gardens -

This final picture is one I hope we'll reenact as we build our own burlap growing bags!