Friendly Composting Redworms

fwroberts

Lesson Objective — Students will learn what redworms utilized for vermiculture eat and the conditions necessary for their survival. Subject Area — Life Science Grade Level — Grade 6 through 12 Alaska Science Standard SC2.3 Season to be Best Complete Lesson — This lesson can be done anytime during the school year redworms are available. Time to Complete Lesson — It will take about 30 minutes to complete the lesson. Materials Needed The instrucor will need a Redworm compost box that been operative for several months. Paper Plates Damp Paper Read More …

Lessons in the garden for the teacher

ecalexander

After the hustle and bustle of a school year, I often find myself in the garden unwinding and thinking about all that happened and how to make things better for next year. Many times I’ve found myself framing gardening techniques within the context of teaching practices as a best method for positive outcomes both in the garden and the classroom. For context, my garden is located eight miles north of the Arctic Circle, in a fly-in only community which doubles the cost of any outside materials for production. The same Read More …

If gardening brings me a bushel of peace–I’ll take it!

nctruitt

An unknown author reportedly said, “Gardening is cheaper than therapy and you get tomatoes.” I appreciate this because I am a psychologist, however, it is truly my goal to be a good gardener. I gardened with my father and mother when I was a child growing up in Colorado. We had a very large rose garden and I learned how to prune them and prepare the plants for the Colorado  winter. My father taught me the basics of gardening vegetables. As a side note, my father just turned 84 years Read More …

Greenhouse Tomatoes in Galena

Tim Kalke

Starting the Process… While being surrounded by family and friends that garden, this summer finds me having endeavored into the art of growing a small variety of tomatoes for the first time. There are so many lessons to absorb. In addition to wading through the learning curve of germinating seeds, transporting starts and watering appropriately, a quality location was needed to build a greenhouse.   Having constructed our family cabin on a small plot located on the north bank of the Yukon, the most logical place appeared to be down Read More …

Mushroom Gardening in Ketchikan

cjdavidshofer

My Mushroom Garden in rain country! My wife and I recently got married June 21st 2015, and bought a house on an open gravel pad in Ketchikan, Alaska. It’s a 3 bedroom 1.5 bath fixer upper but has great potential–something my wife (Amanda) saw when we first took a look at the place. I saw a lot of work! Replacement of windows, siding and remodeling the kitchen was just a start. We took on the challenge and we are loving the place as we see it change from day to Read More …

Ribbons in the Ground

fwroberts

Lesson Objective — Students will learn to identify and describe soil horizons found in the soil in their locale. Students will construct a scale model of the horizons found in their soil pit. Subject Area — Soil Science Grade Level — Grade 7 through 12 Alaska Science Standard SD2.1 Season to be Best Complete Lesson — Fall or very Late Spring. It is best if there is no snow on the ground. Time to Complete Lesson — It will take a half an hour of introductory time in the classroom Read More …

Sprouting Hearts: Instilling a love for gardening in foster kids in Wasilla Alaska

sldziatkiewicz

Twenty years ago I would have laughed at you if you said I’d be that lady standing in the middle of a garden with my sun hat, bending over and pulling weeds. Twenty years ago I was in high school, living in my 5th foster home, doing very well. I was in a stable environment, surrounded by an amazing network of people for the first time in a long time. Gardening wasn’t something I was familiar with–I had farming experience (bottle feeding calves and changing pipe) but nothing to really Read More …

Yarrow, more than your common weed!

kaschot

Stop and enjoy the roadside weeds! Not only did  we name our daughter after this elegant wildflower but have learned that it is quite the miracle worker when used as a healing herb. It’s Latin name is achillea millefollium. Myth has it that Achillea carried this plant with him into battle as a wound healing agent. Yarrow can stop bleeding, relieve pain and act as a anti-microbial which makes it a must for your medicine cabinet. Yarrow can also be used as an effective insect repellent when rubbed on the Read More …