12/1/21 -Fall Learning, as we ebb closer to Winter

*Mondays at Lakeside School- Garden Class (Los Gatos)*

-Bean in Nature took on a new project teaching short garden lessons to all of the different grades at Lakeside School! As Well as helping them revive their existing amazing garden!

*Cover Crops- have been planted in all of the beds that we are going to use for Spring!

These are plants in the Legume family (Pea Family) that help out in so many ways!

They add Nitrogen to the soil, help keep other unwanted weeds out of the garden bed, less work come spring time, they keep moisture in the soil and invite good bugs into the garden!

-Seasonality and Mapping out the Garden Plan

We have talked about what plants grow at what time of the year, so that we can plant the correct plants for Winter! 

-This involved drawing out a huge map of the garden and planning out what all the kids would like to see growing in the garden, and the best place to grow that type of plant depending on its needs!

-Worm Compost- Vermicompost*

-We have taught the kids about Earth Worms vs Red Wiggler worms, talking about the difference between to two and why Red Wiggler Worms are best for a Worm Bin type of Compost! As well as getting to hold and see the worms in person.

-We are working on setting up and learning about the process of a “Worm Factory” (Vermicompost). Eventually collecting worm food from kids lunch scraps at school and let the worms create compost or “gold” for the garden for us! Yay Worms!

*Tues- Anderson Lake Park (Morgan Hill)*

-For two weeks in a row we met at what we call the “top side” of the park! At this location we have access to gorgeous expensive hiking trails with views of the reservoir!

-We have found lots of cool Mushrooms, learning a little bit about how to identify different ones, but not to eat them!

-Found Green, Red and Sparkly White Rocks- learning that they all came from a volcano- making them Igneous Rocks

-Found Big Berry Manzanitas and got to eat some!

-Got some great hiking in, getting used to muddy shoes and colder weather and noticing the changes on the land!

(On the Coldest morning, we had Peppermint Tea to warm the kids up!) 

-The class has really come together as a “community” noticeably helping each other out and getting along extremely well as a large mixed age group!

-We have made ‘survival bracelets’ out of Paracord, learning different knot patterns, 

Decorated masks for Dia De Los Muertos (and learned a little bit about it background/origin),

Beaded madrone berries (tiz the season) into necklaces, bracelets and holiday decorations, and other fun crafts!

*Tues A-Team* 

-We had some special help from some of the children’s parents and family coming into class and teaching a lesson and or craft! 

 - for Dia De Los Muertos, one of the dads taught about its history and led a craft, as well as their family brought food for the class to celebrate! How Special!

-Another week, a mother gave a lesson on; Diwali. She taught a traditional Hindu craft based on the Festival of Lights (Diwali). The kids had a blast!

*We have done a garden lesson about the Life Cycle of Pumpkins, as well as planted Cover Crops in one bed to prepare for Spring and planted Winter Veggies in the second bed. 

*Learning what plants grow in what season, and about our SOIL! 

*Wed- Stevens Creek (Cupertino) *

*Coyotes (younger group)*

-We learned about bird Language and had a day focused on noticing and learning about Birds!

Including: Making Pine cone bird feeders, Bird Sound Maps and built Bird Nests. 

* Wolverines (Older group)*

-We have been learning about Head Shelters/ Tarp shelters- which includes knot typing skills and how to set them up without being “rained on”. 

-This group loves to get out on the land, go hiking and see what they can find! 

-Play lots of games and eat lunch at their ‘secret shelter’. 

-They love working on their “secret shelter” including watering plants nearby to help them grow, and making a mini raised garden bed!

*Thurs -Wolf Mountain (Los Gatos)*

-We have been playing with lots of clay!

 Practicing how to properly Wedge (keep air out of) a piece of clay before throwing on the wheel. -As well as the necessary skill of “centering” a piece of clay, to be able to make pieces that turn out symmetrical and even. 

-We have carved soft pieces of rock called ‘Soap Stone’, easily turning them into different shapes with sand paper and metal tools; or using the pump drill to make a hole for a necklace or keychain!

-We also learned that it is a Sedimentary rock that contains Talc, and has a “soapy” feel to it!

-The Madrone Tree on the property is exploding with Madrone berries and the kids have beaded them into different necklaces, bracelets and holiday decorations! These berries are edible, but also dry and stay hard “beads”, which make them perfect for making crafts in the Fall!

-Learning about Mycelium; going on wonders to find and try to identify different Mushrooms!

-Cooking lots of yummy Food over the Fire including; Banana Boats (bananas with chocolate inside), sausage and veggie skewers, marshmallows, mini apple bakes, hot dogs and potatoes.

-Finding and carving their own roasting stick (if capable) and learning that Flames burn and Coals Roast! 

*Friday Henry Cowell (Felton)*

-The Tween/Teen class loves to go Hiking and find fun open spots to play games!

-We have found lots of mushrooms in the forest along the way! Learning about the different Families of Mushrooms and a Lesson on how to Identify them using a flow chart of characteristics in an amazing book called, “All the Rain Promises and More’.

-Decorated Masks, learned a little bit about the history of Dia De Los Muertos and celebrated by cooking food over the fire! 

-We have each picked an animal, plant, rock, or fungi as a “nature name” and they have fun work for a prize if they research their animal and do an age appropriate journal page on it.

-Carved soft pieces of rock called ‘Soap Stone’, easily turning them into different shapes with sand paper and metal tools; or using the pump drill to make a hole for a necklace or keychain!

-We also learned that it is a Sedimentary rock that contains Talc, and has a “soapy” feel to it!

-A few of the kids have been working on Fire by Friction and practicing their bow drill kits, always on the lookout for good pieces of wood to forage that makes fire. 

*Fridays - Foothill park (Palo Alto)*

-This group loves to go hiking and explore the land!

-We have learned about tracking via a trail made of flour in the forest to follow the “tracks”.

-Enjoy drinking hot Tea to warm up

-Learned how to make wreaths out of braided leaves for a Fall Craft. 

*Survival Saturdays- 1x and 3x Sat*

-Learned how to make a Tarp Shelter to stay out of the rain! 

-Including different Knots and how to work as a team. 

-Lots of playing games and exploring the land!