work day at Amanda's Garden

I was so amazed at the group of people who showed up for the first work day! It was perfect weather, we all learned so much and everyone got a lot of done!
It was really a wonderful community learning event! Thanks you to all who have worked so hard all these years to make this Permaculture so beautiful! ;)

I got a few good pictures that I am attaching here and met a nice young boy named Mohamed who told me, as we cleared the old sticks and brush from the garden, that in Africa they make huts from them and that he had a few other ideas to make things....I liked his attitude immediately and we cleared an area at the fence to store them.;)





Wednesday hut making wit Mohamed: We decided to meet at 3:45 this Wednesday to try to build something, I have bought twine! Any chance we can get the word out for other kids who might like to try this? Mohamed asked me if it was free, :) I said yes, I volunteer to over see the project (with help if many come?).

We also all agreed that the white painted odd form that is standing by the garden needs some kind of function... I suggested we paint it with Blackboard paint and attach a nice bag (Mrs. Garcia suggested we ask Mrs.Travis if she could whip one up for us ;) to keep our chalk inside. It could then be used for children's drawings, messages and announcements for the garden.

Wednesday chalkboard painting of the white odd thing: 3:45, people can either make a hut or paint a box.

Wishing Tree Project update: We made another wishing tree at Amanda's Garden and thought we should leave some materials out there for people passing by to add their wishes. Mrs. Garcia has offered to put out a small bin and I have materials to add. I also left lots of materials for teachers in marked zip-locked bags to continue to do the wishing tree project in their classes. Please let me know if this works, need more or if we should do another workshop?

Volunteers wanted: Lastly, Agnès and I will do a workshop on Thursday's  Brain Boost, it is supposed to be rainy with thunder and so we are doing a paper airplane folding session from a wonderful book I have that describes some really neat folds! I will print them out and the kids can make their favorite and decorate them if they want, for a sunny day hopefully to come!

Laura.

Wishing tree

During recess, the Ray students wrote wishes, decorated these, and we then attached these in the trees. Let the wind, the sun and the rain carry them somewhere where they'll come true!

Ribbons in the trees

For our second right brain boost, it was warm enough for the kids to be outside, so we were more there for the ones who'd like an alternative to the playground.
We gave them some chalks and ribbons, and let them celebrate spring with colors.

Messy fingerprint paintings

For our first artistic recess (or "right brain boost"), we suggested the kids that they could do wonders with their fingers, like the artist Judith Braun. Actually, most of them finished the break by exploring how funny it was to spread color with their bare hands. Let's say it was a perfectly relaxing recess in the middle of a school day!

Right brain boost

A volunteering call has been made about recess at Ray school (or as they call it, "brain boost"). During cold or rainy days, the children have to stay inside, with sometimes nothing to do but wait.

So Laura and I decided to stop our after school workshops and do some artistic recess instead. We feel sorry for the kids that liked to come freely and play with us, but we think we would be more useful that way.

If you want to come and volunteer with us anytime from 11:30 to 1:30 on some school day, please let us know!

Wednesday, February the 13th : Colored ice art

With colored ice cubes, the kids made sculptures, but also mosaics and experiments.

Who needs snowmen?

Especially when snow is not sticky enough, it's nice to have some kid imagination.
What about a porcupine or a giant snow snake?

By the way, our next workshop will be Wednesday, February the 13th, right after school at the Bixler playground.
We'll need you to get ready a tray of ice cubes it ice in any recyclable form and put a drop of food coloring inside, then bring it. And don't forget warm clothe to stand the cold.