Usually when Monday approaches I start thinking about the school gardening club.
Actually, that's a bit of a lie. I used to start thinking about the club and what activities we would be doing on Tuesday. Towards the end of term however, my enthusiasm had started to wane and quite often I wouldn't think about this until Tuesday morning.
It's nothing personal. It seems a general malaise that is currently infecting my life. So last Tuesday I was rather relieved that it was the final one for a few weeks.
Weeding, watering and harvesting had been the main activities for the last two or three sessions, plus a visit from a photographer for the local paper was shoehorned into our busy schedule.
A lot of the produce has been slow to ripen so we've left in the runner beans, courgette and tomatoes with assurances from the members who live in the village that they will harvest them. I will probably pop in too but it does seem a bit cheeky for me to stagger away with armfuls of produce.
Plans for next term include sowing sweet pea seeds, bulbs and working on the herb patch in readiness for next spring. I've also got to look into grants and other funding because I'd like to buy a plastic growhouse (to put goodness knows where) and the bulbs.
The highlights? Definitely the children's enthusiasm and their possessiveness over the plot. It looks good and they should feel proud. The lowlights? Er....lack of working outside tap, the children's inability to remember to water the plants and a general lack of thanks (from adults and children).
For my part I'd mark my report card with a B minus. "Mrs B started the term well but ended a bit flat. She needs to maintain her energy and enthusiasm levels and to remember small but important tasks like entering the plot into gardening competitions, contacting nurseries for sponsorship and burning the photos onto a disc LIKE SHE PROMISED. All in all, could do better."
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I too oversee a school garden and it's one of those things that I complain and grumble about until I'm there and then I love it and am glad I participated. I personally think school gardens are hard to do well and I consider that it's the process that matters most, not the product.
ReplyDeleteThe school gardens are hard. We have had two just completely fail. It seemed the school expected the master gardener leaders to do all the work.
ReplyDeleteThat is just so brilliant to hear someone encouraging children to grow veggies! well done!
ReplyDeletePerhaps your report card should read
ReplyDelete"A* - Despite other commitments in her busy life Mrs.B has turned up for gardening every Tuesday. She has managed to keep it alive - despite lack of sponsorship, support and easy access to water. What is more - she is returning next term".
They are lucky to have you.
Regards
Karen
Here, here Karen @ artistsgarden - Mrs Be, you do yourself down!! Unsure why parents don't thank you - probably too embarassed that they don't donate their time too! Cat x
ReplyDeleteHold on in there, my dear, you are doing a great job. Mt partner is a school gardener and his mission seems to be to keep everyone out of the garden. But then they are teenagers, so understandable perhaps. PS Tried to post a comment to your "honesty" post but can't figure it out. Loved it.
ReplyDelete