Confessions

I have a confession to make. I have turned down the opportunity to participate in . . .

. . . my community's garden.

It's true! My apartment complex, which has plenty of green space, has agreed to allow residents to use some of the green space for a community garden! One very go-get-'em kind of guy appealed to the manager, who probably had to climb the Ladder of Authority before giving the all-clear on this project.

What ARE community gardens, you ask? They are gardens built in space which is specifically designated by the landowners for that use. It could be privately or commercially owned space, like mine, or it could be city-owned space (which are in major cities across the US). The space is divided up, and each participant gets to cultivate the land anyway he chooses: flowers, herbs, fruits/veggies. It can be ideal for urbanites who have no backyard to cultivate on their own. It is also great for people who want to experiment with their budding green thumbs!

A community garden in Vancouver, BC.

The plots in our new garden are about 5' square. That's not a ton of space, but after strolling through today, I see that my neighbors have squeezed veggies and herbs into every available inch. I'm excited to watch them grow!

So while I'm a HUGE fan of this community-enriching program, I also know my own weaknesses. I don't have a green thumb (no matter what you think based on the previously entry). The garden, which is just a short walk from my apartment, is also just far enough for me to forget to check on it daily, and it is too far for a watering can to be practical. As a girl I loved to visit my grandparents and help with their garden, which was large enough to grow hefty amounts of about 20 varieties of vegetables. I have a good sense of the work committment! All that to say I'm not ready yet.

But for those who embark on such a project, I wish you a healthy sense of community spirit and a green thumb!

Spring is here!

My Awesome Spring Weekend

Fire is not so photogenic, but what you see is our homey fire at a pavilion in one of the local parks. Hot dogs provided. Bring Your Own Stick.

The first grilled steak of spring. Paired with a green salad, roasted sweet potatoes, and a roll. Dinner in the fresh air by candlelight.

We lugged all of our pots, dirt and plants down to a public area where we could make a mess in peace. Lucy helped. We earned the good neighbor award by not sweeping tons of dirt onto our downstairs neighbor's balcony. I hope they appreciated the sacrifice!

Ready. Set. GROW!

Young seeds getting nestled in.

Here's to hoping my green thumb emerges this growing season!

Race to Nowhere

A local school recently hosted a free screening of the new film, Race to Nowhere.

The mother-turned-director had children who were physically and emotionally spent trying to cope with the demands of a typical American schooling. After 8 hours of school, kids go home to 2-6 more hours of homework. They are also expected to participate in daily sports practices, be accomplished artists and musicians, do community service, and still get sleep at night. The film is a call to action for teachers, parents, schools and students to pursue methods of education that are beneficial to the whole person.

For many parents, it will be an eye-opener to learn how many students abuse drugs to stay awake on a regular homework night. In a recent study of 5,000 students, only 3% had NEVER cheated. The battle for them is just to cope. The film gives a constant stream of factoids about the developmental abilities of students at different ages and how ill-fitted our education system is for the needs of those students.

The sticking point for me was when a high school teacher said, "When did schools gain the right to tell students how live after the bell rings?" And conversely, I wondered when parents gained the right to tell teachers how to teach students in their own classrooms.

This is an issue for everyone - not just parents. It is worth your time to find a public screening and help your community change schools for the better. www.racetonowhere.com