After a Too Hot Too Dry Summer...Harvest is Still Abundant

And it is abundantly clear that first grade farmers are deeply engrossed in their work.

Renewing soil.

Harvesting fruits.

Tasting fruits and other plant parts.

Hunting for plant parts.

This entry: Just another excuse to post pictures of our visiting hens?

What do you think of:  Vanilla or Blondie for the Chilean hen?

First grade farmers observe hens.  Perhaps they are deciding on names?  Election to be held next week.  

Hen in forefront:  Red? Cinnamon?

Name choices:  Pepper, Oreo, or Speckles?

Assertive isn't she...How about Hillary?

An Environmentalist's Dilemma

We plant tropical milkweed to feed the monarchs we raise in our 5th Grade classrooms.  Wild monarchs have been eating away at our milkweed much to everyone's amazement.  But we have a dilemma...Should we uproot our plants to feed our classroom larva or leave the milkweed for the wild larva?  

 

And monarchs aren't the only ones benefiting from the milkweed.

Students transplanting milkweed to bring to classrooms.

Students discussed the problem:  They feel we need to plant even more milkweed for next year. If we have any larva left in classrooms, we should put them outdoors.  Trying to help nature is filled with moral dilemmas. 

Chickens Have Come to BNS to Roost

 

Hens came in a big carton.

Matt Sheehan brought the hens from Edgemere Farm.

Better watch those wormy looking toes.

Feeling at Home?

Looks like it.

How did all of this come about?

Anna and Manny said yes.
Thomas Gordon built the coop and the chicken run.
Matt Sheehan and Heidi Woolover let us keep their 3 hens until Thanksgiving.
Johanna curated the whole thing.  

That's how!

How Does Our Garden Grow?

With volunteers.  This summer was hot and dry.  Yet BNS Farms is now lushly green and filled with produce.   Luckily,  Johanna had support from a rugged crew. Recognize anyone?