Summer 2015

It is officially summer vacation at Ramon Corona Elementary School.  Almost all the classrooms are empty, the 'usually full of children running and laughing' school yard is silent.  All except for one remedial summer math class....summer is here!

The Children's Organic Garden has been put to sleep for the summer.  Even in its slumber, the garden continues to provide.  The math class came out to greet us during their break, led by Bryan.  They harvested pepinos, ejotes, flowers and acelga.  Not bad for a garden that will be smothered when the municipal tree trimmers arrive to complete their task.

Summer Math Class

Acelga Harvest

Garden Zinnias

We'd like to thank all the people who assisted, donated, volunteered and made this garden possible this year.

Look for us at the start of next term....we have twice the gardens planned and twice the fun and learning to look forward to.

Have a Happy Summer!

The Ramon Corona Elementry

Children's Organic Garden Project Crew.

Dia Del Ninio - Seed Harvesting Day

April 30th, 2015

Dia Del Ninio, a day to celebrate children...and celebrate they did.  Regular classes at Ramon Corona Elementary School were suspended.  Instead the classrooms and playgrounds were full of song, dance, costume contest participants and food...all part of the day's special agenda.

At the end of the short school day the children came into the organic garden to wander, help water, weed and collect seed.  

Maestro Brad leading the seed harvest

Bryan harvesting Daikon radish seeds

Bryan y su col

Bryan was especially taken with the Chinese col and asked to take one home.  The plant was almost as big and heavy as he was.  I asked him who the chef was in his family and he responded "mi papa". Bryan's mother was there and I asked her if she thought the family could eat the entire plant...she said "yes" and planned on sharing the food with her sister's family and her mother, Bryan's abuela.  So we dug up the col, put it into Bryan's arms and off the family went.

Seeds harvested

Girasoles

Melon

Fco. y Los Boyz

As the school year winds down, plans for future organic gardens are brewing.  We plan on having 2 gardens next school year:  one for the 5th grade class and one for the new 4th graders.

Thank you once again to all those who have helped, supported and nurtured this project. 

Your efforts are growing exponentially.

Harvesting Seed and Mulchin'

Thursday March 19th, 2015

 Mulching The Garden with Brad "Mulch" Mowers

Our harvest days continue, the garden plants are completing their first cycle and it is time to re-mulch the beds, plant new starters and harvest seeds for next season.

Brad and Sergio Mulching

Martin Harvesting Swiss Chard

As we harvest we plant seeds directly into our beds to replenish the vegetables that are nearing the end of their first cycle.

Martin also provided a solution to our Cutter Ant problem....rice.  We sprinkled white rice on the garden beds to divert the ants from eating the plants....they instead go after the rice and everyone is happy.  We're trying several local organic solutions to this problem and will report their efficacy.

Sergio y Brad Harvesting Seed

 

A foto is taken for the outside of the seed envelope to identify the plant

  So Small, Yet So Full Of Life

Martin and The Girls Planting Seeds

At the end of the day we need to replenish our mature plants, so we are starting new plants from seed, as well as receiving starter plant donations from Pete and his crew.

And so it goes...

Media Afternoon

On Wednesday March 4th, 2015....we decided to "March Forth"!  Realizing that we need to increase our adult volunteer work force, we called a Media Afternoon in the Ramon Corna Children's Organic Garden and invited both the english and spanish speaking reporters from our local newspapers, magazines and radio stations to visit.  And they did!

Lupita from Las Redes Interviewing Martin

Because of the large numbers of children that we teach in the garden every week, we realized that having more adults to work with the children would be an advantage.  We decided to get the word out and voice our need for more volunteer help every week.

The reporter from Las Redes, Lupita, was the first to arrive.  She was pleasant and thorough with her interview and promised to let the community know of our volunteer needs.

Jocelyn from La Laguna Arrives

Jocelyn, from La Laguna, arrived shortly after and interviewed several of the adults present.

Swiss Chard Harvest

We never miss an opportunity to garden and teach.  Most of the children were in their classrooms, but several visited our Media Afternoon and volunteered to water the garden and help the adults harvest.

 Ejotes and Daikon Raddishes Were Also Harvested

 Louraisha Lends A Harvesting Hand

 The Kids And Their Take

 Plenty From A Small Plot

 Harvest For Lunch Tomorrow In The Garden

Principal Sylvia Visited As Well 

We are preparing for our next Children's Organic Garden Event....a Volunteer Recruitment gathering, focusing on bringing together the community for a screening of a wonderful documentary on Cuban organic gardening.

We'll have more details soon.  And as always we want to thank all the volunteers and sponsors that give so lovingly of their time and expertese.

"Planting A Seed of Hope and Change"

The Ramon Corona Children's Organic Garden Project

Teacher Conference

Today's Organic Garden Class was superb!  We were given a very generous donation by Pete Jarveis of several costales of worm castings.  If you know about organic gardening, you know this is black gold....and very beneficial to our garden soil.  In addition, Pete brought several varieties of heirloom seeds for our seed planting class today.  Gracias Pete for your continued support and gifts.  We truly appreciate your presence.

Worm Casting Donations

by Pete Jarveis

Our garden was also revisited by our foes, the Leaf Cutter Ants.  The man who brought us our worm castings, Raphael, had another suggestion for our problem....a fermented mixture of human urine and cow manure applied several times. directly to the ant hole.  We discussed this in class and are considering implementing the solution in our garden (more to discusss).

Teachers In Classroom

In classroom, we also covered lunar cycles and their effect on plants.  Maestro Antonio was present to answer all questions and gave a wonderful class.

 Lunar Cycle Effects on Plants

Then it was time to go out to the garden.  Rocio, from Huerto Cafe, oversaw the distribution of the worm castings in the new garden bed soil preparation.

Worm Casting Distribution

Our garden continues to grow beautifully.  The Public School District Supervisor visited the 4th grade class this past week and was surprised and pleased with the education being given to the 4th grade organic gardening class.  Maestra Alma also stated that she too is learning along with her students.

 Our Jardin

Today was seed planting day, and the students were all given egg shell planters to start their seeds....in 1 or 2 weeks the seedlings will be ready to plant into the new garden beds.

Seed Starters

A new Volunteer Fundraiser is being plannned soon.  On Wedneday we will have reporters out to the garden for foto opportunities and interviews.  We expect La Pagina, El Charral and The Guadalajara Reporter to be present.

In additon, a new fruit tree orchard is on the horizon in the organic garden area.

Thank you to all who support our efforts to "Plant A Seed Of Hope and Change" in our Chapala Community.

Enaj, Simohn, Louraisha, Martin, Antonio, Brad y Fco.

Radio Interview In Guadalajara - Valentine's Day 2015

Our garden partners, supporters and friends from Huerto Cafe, Rocio and Fernando, invited me to be interviewed on their weekly radio talk show FM 103.5 "La Tapatia".  The interview was scheduled for Saturday - Valentine's Day...so I headed to the big city.

Plaza Tapatia, Valentine's Day

Guadalajara, Jalisco

 Rocio and Beto

In Booth

Fernando and Ing. Antonio from ITESO

In Studio 

The talk show allowed me to speak about the creation of the Ramon Corona Children's Organic Garden Project....how it came about....how we started with nothing but a dream and how the community has supported our efforts throughout.  During the broadcast we had listeners call and write into the station to ask about how they could start their own community organic garden.  We were also given the opportunity to thank the students, teachers, volunteers and organizers of the project.  I turned out to be a grand morning, and we thank Rocio and Fernando again for all their efforts and donations.

Aside from it being Valentine's Day, the city was celebrating its 473rd year of existence that day.  The downtown area was dressed to the 9's and the Mayor and his staff were handing out pan dulce and champurado to the early morning crowds in front of the Catedral.

Mariachi in front of the Catedral

MiBici

While in Gudalajara I took advantage of the public transport system, using their MiBici vehicles to get around.  This is definitely a welcome addition to urban transit options.

Hospicio de Cabañas

Daniel Lazama

When I am in Guadalajara, the one place I always visit is the Hospicio de Cabañas.  The Instituto Cultural Cabañas always has wondeful exhibits or hosts amazing performances.  This trip proved to be worth the visit.

Thursday Feb. 19th, 2015

Ramon Corona Children's Organic Garden

Louraisha enjoys watering

 Harvesting Lettuce

  Daikon Radishes

Today we harvested our first crop of Daikon Radishes...and they were delicious!  The kids enjoyed them fresh from the harvest and were able to take radishes home for their dinner tables.

We loved the flavor! (well, most of us did)

 New Garden Bed Planting

With the help of parents and friends we continue to plant new beds...one or two a week.  Our friend Pete continues to bring us his beautiful starter plants and we continue planting seeds and change for the future.

Gracias to all those who are assisting us in our efforts.  The Ramon Corona Elementary School's 4th grade class also sends its appreciation.

Jan. 22nd, 2015 - Lettuce Harvest

Today's lesson at Ramon Corona Children's Organic Garden Project was garden safety.  We reviewed the garden tools we currently have and their proper uses....their dangers...their maintenance.  We organized our work groups and attempted to streamline our time in the garden, giving each group of children the opportunity to experience all of the garden.

Our Garden Is Growing

Planting the new garden bed was one of the stations we established today.  Martin was the supervisor at this station and the kids all loved working with him...and seeing the fruits of their labor grow.

Sergio especially liked the planting station

As our garden grows, so does its notariety.  Mothers, fathers, uncles and aunts are showing up to ask about the crops, techniques used.  Antonio is a wonderful diplomat for the garden and patiently answers all inquires with an experienced smile.

 Today's treat was being able to harvest lettuce for family dinner tables.

 The children patiently lined up for their share of the harvest.

Well....some not so patiently.  Waiting is hard work!

 We all pitched in and made magic happen.

 Our Compost Girlz hard at work

This amazing creature showed up in our compost pile.  It was easily 6 inches in lenght and camaflouged as a leaf.  As we prepared the compost pile we observed its behaviour and spoke of its attributes...all part of the garden lesson. 

I believe it is a Katydid or katídidos o catítidos.