Happy Holiday Wishes

Look for more crafty ways to reuse corks in the new year.  

Behind the Scenes of a Greener BNS

Jennifer Fleming's and Andrew's students are collecting compost from classroom compost pails.  It's all part of their once a week Green Community Service.

Emptying classroom compost into larger bin  is first step.

Next, clean classroom bin.

Third.  Admire a job well done.

Lunchtime Recycling and Composting Still Going Strong

It is the fourth grade's turn to head up the recycling, composting and trash station.

It seems that job is in the capable and gloved hands of three students in Cora's and Josh's class.

Johanna gently guides in the background.

A Kindergarten student spotted a plastic spoon in compost horrifying a fourth grader.

Too bad the sharp-eyed Kindergarten student is camera shy.

Urban Farm Corps Visitors Make BNS Lunch and Recess Greener

What's so much fun?  Mulching during recess.

Meanwhile back in the cafeteria...

A simple idea on Johanna's part may lead to a big reduction in wasted fruit.
Have adults cut pears and apples with a slicer.
It is The BNS version of the CORE curriculum. (Sorry. I had to add the line.)

All gone but the core.

               After lunch BNS students check out the worms that are eating our compost.

Urban Farm Corps will be at BNS every Wednesday for the next few months.
Looking forward to it.

First Graders Know Wasting Wood is Well...Wasteful

So they use sawdust and glue to make sculptures...

So they glue layers of thin wood to make strong plywood that can be used as a magnet.

Can you tell which name isn't a student in Helen's class?

Winter is On Its Way...

But farmers can't rest.  Small groups of first grade farmers, led by Johanna, are braving the elements to care for BNS Farms beds.   They have to be ready for the cold to come.

Recognize the hay?  First Grade Farmers are recycling hay from Apple Fest.

Nothing gets wasted at BNS Farms.  The hay makes a good blanket  for  perennials.

Garden to Cafeteria Day November 20, 2013:

Amazing effort from volunteers and staff.  Hard work from first grade farmers and their teachers and families. Delicious menu--roasted carrots, beets, and Brussels sprouts; chunky apple sauce; BNS raised greens and radishes; raw apples.  A great time for everyone.

"Thank you farmers.  Thank you cooks.  Bon appetit."

Urban Farm Corps Volunteers Run the Apple Tasting Test -- Pretty Close to A Three-Way Tie

Two first grade farmers serve their crops in a salad.

Another UFC worker supporting farming and good eating habits.

Four thumbs up for roasted veggies.

Two stickers:  proving that this BNS student has tried roasted veggies and greens.

First Grade Farmers Work Through the Cold Weather

Since the very beginning of the school year, BNS first graders have been farming at BNS Farms.

Under cover of the plastic hoop house, crops continued to grow despite the frost.

 All of their hard work resulted in an abundant harvest of lettuce, radishes, and arugula.

2nd Grade Teacher Saves the Crops

It seems crows were hanging around the lettuce in first grade beds.
Greta heroically chased them away.
And left amused that only in a school like BNS would morning prep include chasing scavengers.
Johanna spotted one of the likely suspects lurking around later in the day.

Time to build scarecrows!

Monarch Release Pictures Just In

Antoinette's and Nancy's Fifth Graders Get  Up Close and Personal With Monarchs 

How Does Our Garden Grow?

With Pipes, Rain Water, Team Work, and People of All Ages and Sizes

At Apple Fest, 2013

October Beach Clean-up

The 17th Annual BNS Plumb Beach Clean-up

These 3rd Graders work hard to remove a plastic trash can .

And despite the grown-ups, this blogger included, who tell them to give up....

They successfully remove it.

Nearly 400 pounds of recyclables and trash were collected for the DOS to remove!

Last Monarch in Brooklyn?

Fifth Grade Raised Monarch Emerges from Chrysalis at Apple Fest.
!Buen viaje a México!

 (translated by Microsoft Translator)

Released October 19, 2013