Location! Location! Location! Picking A Spot To Start A Garden.

Getting Started On The Right Foot Spring is here! And soon it’ll be time to get growing! And perhaps, like me, you have already set out some plants. But wait! Have you carefully considered some important facts which could make the difference between gardening success or failure? The truth is that every year many gardeners fail, because they just didn’t get started on the right foot to begin with by choosing wisely where to pick a spot to garden. Yes, location is very important. Let’s discuss some basic but essential Read More …

Seed starting for Beginners Part 1

Its that time! It is the time of year – time to appease our need for the smell of soil and the love of nurturing green life. Many people spend a fortune in plants at the box stores and green houses. Good for them, there is nothing wrong with that. However, paying $2-3 per cabbage plant makes me wonder why they don’t just buy cabbage at the grocery store. Not only is it expensive, but missing the seed starting is missing one of the best parts! Watching and nurturing the Read More …

Ribbons in the Ground

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 …

School-wide composting; why isn’t it happening!?

“You can solve a lot of the world’s problems if you do school right.” (unknown author) As a principal, I get a bird’s eye view of the many moving parts associated with operating a school. From instructional programs and curriculum, to facility and food service management (and everything else in-between; PTA’s, personnel, standards, assessment, discipline, athletics/clubs, scheduling, special education, purchasing, staff & student travel, professional development, etc., etc.); they all interact to produce your local educational system. More importantly though, is what that “system” outputs; that is, the quality of Read More …