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Post by madonplants on Apr 18, 2008 10:06:23 GMT 1
Smallest's teacher collared me this morning. They are doing all about how plants grow this term so she has sown Sweet Peas, Sunflowers, Runner Beans and Cress with them. She wants me to oversee sorting out the small border along their class room - weeding, digging over and sowing and planting up. I am going in this afternoon to get it all going. I am so pleased to be asked - maybe this is the way to do it, not trying to get everyone after school (far too many want to, not enough adults) but gradually getting each class more and more involved in their outside environment - planting it up and looking after it. I must try and be at school more often I think shoving stuff under the teachers noses and generally making my presence obvious a bit more..... I WISH someone would pay me a little to do it! I have to earn a living still......we could achieve so much more if I was there every day..... Why not ask, you never know? What's the worst they could say? Sorry, no we don't have the cash, but we do appreciate the work you do.  |
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Post by 4pygmies on Apr 18, 2008 10:16:35 GMT 1
I have asked....there's no way! I was thinking more along the lines of some sort of community grant really - that is the way the powers that be want schools to develop. Environmental education has a big part to play in that - getting the people around the school involved - OAP's, clubs, the Parish Council etc. As ever the funding isn't there and the whole thing relies on volunteers.
I have spent a fortune on the stuff for school in the last 3 years and I just can't afford to do that - in fact, even the teacher this morning had paid for the seeds and compost out of her own pocket - and it's part of the curriculum. It is a ridiculous state of affairs....
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Post by bogmyrtle on Apr 18, 2008 10:29:31 GMT 1
I have asked....there's no way! I was thinking more along the lines of some sort of community grant really - that is the way the powers that be want schools to develop. Environmental education has a big part to play in that - getting the people around the school involved - OAP's, clubs, the Parish Coucil etc. As ever the funding isn't there and the whole thing relies on volunteers. I don't know if they have a community fund, but what about the Lottery Fund? As Keith says, they could say no but they could also say yes! PS my idea of a good cause is probably different to the Lottery one though! ;D |
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Post by 4pygmies on Apr 18, 2008 10:51:17 GMT 1
The Lottery Fund provided the original grant - I don't think they pay wages for people - most of these schemes presuppose that everyone is a volunteer. If someone would pay me for about 20 hours work a week it would make a huge difference...it doesn't work that way these days....you have to be part of a huge area team or work for the Education department and deal with 'clusters' of schools.
It's just me dolly day dreaming again.. ;D
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Post by madonplants on Apr 18, 2008 10:56:31 GMT 1
The Lottery Fund provided the original grant - I don't think they pay wages for people - most of these schemes presuppose that everyone is a volunteer. If someone would pay me for about 20 hours work a week it would make a huge difference...it doesn't work that way these days....you have to be part of a huge area team or work for the Education department and deal with 'clusters' of schools. It's just me dolly day dreaming again.. ;D Trouble I suppose is, if they paid you it would have to be the minimum wage at least, so not really something the school thinks about. As long as the grass gets cut, anything else is a bonus, in their eyes. Wrong I know! |
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Post by 4pygmies on May 7, 2008 14:02:25 GMT 1
I'm just back from my usual lunchtime session of Gardening Club. We went into the Wildlife garden today. I moved three heritage Apple trees which had been heeled in there to a slightly more sensible position. They are poorly looking things but I hope they'll recover from the shock. I had a team of kids going backwards and forwards with watering cans to soak them. Then we planted the Buddlejas OldMoleskins donated into their permanent positions in the corner next to the pond and then we spent a quiet (not) few minutes pulling out the blanket weed and moving some of the plants into the other ponds, which didn't get their fair share last Autumn. Although they are very pretty we have some unwelcome visitors, 3 ducks, who have decided to take up quarters in the garden and are spending a lot of time standing on the pond surrounds. We discouraged them in a kindly but firm manner today...... : I suppose I shall have to rig up some netting or something. We couldn't see any tadpoles but there are plenty of other creatures in there. The children really enjoyed themselves and we were constantly being watched by loads of others wanting to join in - it is such a shame. I kept telling them all to tell their teachers and their parents that they wanted to get out and do some gardening in school and at home. What a shocking waste of interest and eagerness to learn about the world it is......I find it really frustrating  Anyone out there reading this, who is a parent and who is interested in Gardening and our environment PLEASE consider going into school and getting involved in gardening with students - there are such a lot of ways we could help our kids grow up caring about this world - it's so urgent that this younger generation learn to live more sustainably and with far more thought for their impact on the world.. |
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Post by debbiem on May 7, 2008 15:59:15 GMT 1
My daughter's in the Gardening Club at her school 4P. Problem is she's forgotten to go twice on the trot.  The teacher even reminded her and her friend today, beforehand, but they still forgot! But they usually go and to date this term they've planted beetroot, lettuce, tomatoes,sunflowers,courgettes and radishes. They've emptied out the pond too and are going to refill it with fresh water. But she probably missed that bit. : She loves it though. |
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Post by madonplants on May 7, 2008 16:31:58 GMT 1
My daughter's in the Gardening Club at her school 4P. Problem is she's forgotten to go twice on the trot. The teacher even reminded her and her friend today, beforehand, but they still forgot! But they usually go and to date this term they've planted beetroot, lettuce, tomatoes,sunflowers,courgettes and radishes. They've emptied out the pond too and are going to refill it with fresh water. But she probably missed that bit. : She loves it though. Stephen does gardening as well at his school and appears to be enjoying it. He does veg mostly, like runner beans and pumpkins. 4P, I do hope the kids were wearing sun factor 35, while working in the middle of the day!  |
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Post by 4pygmies on May 9, 2008 13:27:05 GMT 1
Smallest was! I actually remembered to apply it, but since we are not allowed to do the same for all the other children, nor to use anything other than their own sunscreen, I doubt if they were...ridiculous isn't it?
All the children love gardening club and really enjoy even the tedious stuff (to us) like weeding. It's such a shame they can't all do it - I'm sure they would learn more and in a much more interesting way, if they did science, maths, geography etc etc within that framework. What child wouldn't prefer to be outside rather than stuck in a classroom when the weather is like this?
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Post by mickthecactus on May 9, 2008 13:33:04 GMT 1
Smallest was! I actually remembered to apply it, but since we are not allowed to do the same for all the other children, nor to use anything other than their own sunscreen, I doubt if they were...ridiculous isn't it? All the children love gardening club and really enjoy even the tedious stuff (to us) like weeding. It's such a shame they can't all do it - I'm sure they would learn more and in a much more interesting way, if they did science, maths, geography etc etc within that framework. What child wouldn't prefer to be outside rather than stuck in a classroom when the weather is like this? That goes for adults in offices.... |
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Post by 4pygmies on May 9, 2008 16:30:31 GMT 1
Gardening Club's for the office bound...is this a potential new career for me? Instead of bringing round the sandwiches I shall hoick in a load of seed trays so people can do a bit of pricking out in their lunchhours...... ;D
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Post by 4pygmies on May 14, 2008 16:43:52 GMT 1
Ooh, I DO enjoy this lunchtime Gardening Club! Today we sowed the Hestia beans, pricked out a tray of Gardeners Delight tomatoes, covered up the potatoes growing in bags and weeded the little flower beds. One boy was so completely intent on weeding his classes potatoes we didn't hear a peep out of him for 20 minutes! The herb garden we planted last summer looks fine, it just needs filling up a bit more. The empty bed is going to be planted up with sunflowers and annuals when they are hardened off. And three more children came and asked if they could join in..... |
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Post by madonplants on May 14, 2008 16:47:21 GMT 1
Ooh, I DO enjoy this lunchtime Gardening Club! Today we sowed the Hestia beans, pricked out a tray of Gardeners Delight tomatoes, covered up the potatoes growing in bags and weeded the little flower beds. One boy was so completely intent on weeding his classes potatoes we didn't hear a peep out of him for 20 minutes! The herb garden we planted last summer looks fine. The empty bed is going to be planted up with sunflowers and annuals when they are hardened off. Coo! Sounds great, 4P. What age group are they or are they mixed? That boy who was intent on weeding, could you not take him home for a few hours, with his parent's consent of course!? |
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Post by Sweetleaf on May 14, 2008 16:49:56 GMT 1
Sounds lovely, I have a lot of trouble finding even one person who is interested in gardening with me, it must be brilliant to be able to engender such enthusiasm and dedication, in small children! ;D
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Post by 4pygmies on May 14, 2008 16:53:43 GMT 1
Ooh, I DO enjoy this lunchtime Gardening Club! Today we sowed the Hestia beans, pricked out a tray of Gardeners Delight tomatoes, covered up the potatoes growing in bags and weeded the little flower beds. One boy was so completely intent on weeding his classes potatoes we didn't hear a peep out of him for 20 minutes! The herb garden we planted last summer looks fine. The empty bed is going to be planted up with sunflowers and annuals when they are hardened off. Coo! Sounds great, 4P. What age group are they or are they mixed? That boy who was intent on weeding, could you not take him home for a few hours, with his parent's consent of course!? Blimey Keith, what are you suggesting?? ;D The students are mainly Year 3. The 2 Infant classes have their own little garden behind their class and do stuff there, which I have had a bit of input into, advising what will grow and supplying seeds etc. The older ones don't seem as interested, although that may be because they don't know me, smallest being in Year 3, most of them have known me since Nursery age.. The older ones do cluster about the gate when we go in the Wildlife garden though. I think the Apple trees have survived being dug up and moved btw. |
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Post by 4pygmies on May 21, 2008 14:24:52 GMT 1
We're not having gardening club for three weeks after today cos I'm away at GWLive so we did some planting today. It was bedlam! Fun though ;D We have planted a long strip of Sunflowers, some Nasturtiums and a group of children went off to shove Nasturtium seeds around the school building. I hope some of them come up......we like Nasturtiums  As ever we were surrounded by children wanting to join in  . Still no extra helpers though so we're not allowed any more. We have a disabled boy at school, he is mobile but has trouble with speech and arm movement. He was fascinated with all the activity so we let him ply a watering can and he sowed some Nasturtiums in a pot to take home for his Mum. He was totally thrilled - it was a joy to watch him. If only I could do this with more of our pupils......... Anyway, I emailed the BBC Chelsea team today to ask if they would give a bit more coverage to the Dorset Cereal Edible Playground, and to urge them to give some airtime to the RHS School programme. You never know, they might spend a few more seconds covering it.......every little helps.... |
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Post by madonplants on May 21, 2008 14:36:06 GMT 1
We're not having gardening club for three weeks after today cos I'm away at GWLive so we did some planting today. It was bedlam! Fun though ;D We have planted a long strip of Sunflowers, some Nasturtiums and a group of children went off to shove Nasturtium seeds around the school building. I hope some of them come up......we like Nasturtiums As ever we were surrounded by children wanting to join in . Still no extra helpers though so we're not allowed any more. We have a disabled boy at school, he is mobile but has trouble with speech and arm movement. He was fascinated with all the activity so we let him ply a watering can and he sowed some Nasturtiums in a pot to take home for his Mum. He was totally thrilled - it was a joy to watch him. If only I could do this with more of our pupils......... Anyway, I emailed the BBC Chelsea team today to ask if they would give a bit more coverage to the Dorset Cereal Edible Playground, and to urge them to give some airtime to the RHS School programme. You never know, they might spend a few more seconds covering it.......every little helps.... For a moment, I thought you had lost it there!! ;D Let us know if you get a reply to your email, thought he coverage wasn't baaaaaaaaaad. |
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Post by 4pygmies on May 21, 2008 14:41:27 GMT 1
I can think of one or two I would love to plant! Very deep down too......... ;D
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Post by 4pygmies on Jul 2, 2008 14:37:18 GMT 1
WARNING: BIG TIME RANT.....
The highs and lows of school gardening....I sounded really upbeat previously but today I have more or less decided to give up (throwing in the trowel as it were..). Not a thing has been done in the garden while I was away, the potatoes were dug up by the Year 3's (leaving me to clear up the mess), smallest and 2 of her friends have been watering religiously to keep plants alive (On their own - no adults were interested enough to check the GH) and thus far (after 3 years) very few adults are interested enough to even show a passing interest and certainly not enough to get off their backsides and join in. I was saying this to one of the school assistants after lunch who said I might as well give up - how sad is that?
I think it's a theme developing with me - I am appalled at the apathy and general lack of interest shown by the parents/adults today....I know it's easy to say but I am sure that it wasn't like that 20 years ago when my older girls were at junior school. And not just with regard to gardening - I've posted petition after petition on MB's trying to get people to be aware, or to make some small protest about the state of the world - but only a few have ever shown any interest. I simply don't understand why people are so lethargic and disinterested.....
There is an entire generation growing up now who will have very little access to plants, wild creatures and places, at a time when it is crucial that people understand how we've mucked up the world with our ignorance, greed and wilful stupidity. There are growing global concerns about food, oil and the extermination of habitats - surely this isn't a subject for slightly offbeat old hippies and weirdos any more? Why doesn't anyone care? Why can't these parents see that it's their children who will suffer? Is it really more important who gets chucked out of Big Brother? Or whether some overpaid , vacuous 'celebrity' has has a face lift or not?
It's always someone else's responsibility. There is always a reason why each person can't be bothered to stand up and do something.....excuse after excuse for keeping your head down, not wanting to make any effort, not caring about your community/environment/street/local park /school playground/whatever....but there isn't any excuse. We are all part of this living world, we all consume, use energy, take up space, want more things. It's always someone's else's job to clean the streets, plant some communal garden up, look after the elderly neighbour, entertain the young, run the Youth Club, etc etc...I am soooooo tired of hearing it all. It's crap. People just don't care enough.
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Post by Sleepy on Jul 2, 2008 14:42:56 GMT 1
Give in if you must, but if you carry on it will be for Rosie and her two friends. It would have been worse in NOBODY had cared, eh?
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Post by 4pygmies on Jul 2, 2008 15:00:15 GMT 1
Rosie and her two friends can all garden at home. I wanted to help the children who don't have that opportunity - but I can't do it on my own any more - I have 3 jobs now, 2 of them starting this month - if the parents don't care enough to come and help (and they simply don't) then I am forced to give up - I don't have the free time any more. After 3 years I still haven't had any more offers of help despite letters, posters and asking personally. And the teachers are as bad - they don't show much interest either - not enough to be of any use. It was as bad when I tried to get people to look after the village hall flower beds when smallest was at the pre school group there. It is always someone else's responsibility....
Tbh, it makes me utterly sick. I don't want to listen to their pathetic and self interested excuses any more... this is not just about my gardening club but the disgusting lack of caring and doing by the majority of people these days. People are just not much use, it seems to me. Many of them find the time and money to go out regularly, have holidays, buy stuff etc etc but they can't be ar**d to do anything in their community or make any effort thinking about other people's and countries - there's nothing in it for them is there?
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Post by Sleepy on Jul 2, 2008 15:07:01 GMT 1
Rosie and her two friends can all garden at home. I wanted to help the children who don't have that opportunity - but I can't do it on my own any more - I have 3 jobs now, 2 of them starting this month - if the parents don't care enough to come and help (and they simply don't) then I am forced to give up - I don't have the free time any more. After 3 years I still haven't had any more offers of help despite letters, posters and asking personally. And the teachers are as bad - they don't show much interest either - not enough to be of any use. It was as bad when I tried to get people to look after the village hall flower beds when smallest was at the pre school group there. It is always someone else's responsibility.... Tbh, it makes me utterly sick. I don't want to listen to their pathetic and self interested excuses any more... this is not just about my gardening club but the disgusting lack of caring and doing by the majority of people these days. People are just not much use, it seems to me. Many of them find the time and money to go out regularly, have holidays, buy stuff etc etc but they can't be ar**d to do anything in their community or make any effort thinking about other people's and countries - there's nothing in it for them is there? Yep, you are about right there. One of many reasons I quit Lions - most people are selfish, grabbing and darned unpleasant. Not all are though. |
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Post by 4pygmies on Jul 2, 2008 15:13:07 GMT 1
No, I know some aren't...some days it just feels like most are pretty horrible, and this is one of those days.... : I am very disappointed that I didn't make a better job of Gardening Club, that's all. It was very dear to my heart and I have failed quite spectacularly. I shall give up and move on now. I might even move smallest to another school......she hates it there too! |
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Post by Sleepy on Jul 2, 2008 15:14:22 GMT 1
No, I know some aren't...some days it just feels like most are pretty horrible, and this is one of those days.... : I am very disappointed that I didn't make a better job of Gardening Club, that's all. It was very dear to my heart and I have failed quite spectacularly. I shall give up and move on now. I might even move smallest to another school......she hates it there too! You know, that sounds like a plan |
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Post by petal on Jul 2, 2008 15:14:29 GMT 1
hi 4p,people just cant be bothered they prefer others to do all the work and just stand back,i think you are great in helping the kids,i bet they appreciate it,and congrats on your new job.it sounds interesting.
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The teacher even reminded her and her friend today, beforehand, but they still forgot! But they usually go and to date this term they've planted beetroot, lettuce, tomatoes,sunflowers,courgettes and radishes. They've emptied out the pond too and are going to refill it with fresh water. But she probably missed that bit. :
As ever we were surrounded by children wanting to join in 
. Still no extra helpers though so we're not allowed any more. 
