Zgodba.
Prejsnjo soboto smo se spet srečali s starimi znanci. Ko smo tako sedeli pri prijatelju doma in pili hladno pivo, smo se pogovarjali o razno raznih stvareh. Ko je bil pogovor na visku, je nekdo povedal, da je nekoč bral raziskavo, da so v pivu zenski hormoni. Glede na to, da je bila druzba pretezno raziskovalnega duha, smo se odločili to trditev temeljito testirati in ugotoviti ali je pravilna ali ne. Začeli smo intenzivno piti pivo in sicer je vsak spil dvajset piv, enega za drugim (seveda vse za interese znanosti). No, rezultati in spoznanja so bila sledeča:
A) Vsi smo se naenkrat zredili.
B) Vsi smo na ves glas govorili, ne da bi povedali kaj pametnega.
C) Seveda ni nihče poslusal kaj govorijo drugi.
D) Imeli smo velike probleme pri voznji.
E) Nikakor nismo mogli racionalno in smiselno razmisljati niti o najpreprostejsih stvareh.
F) Vse napake, ki smo jih počeli smo takoj zanikali.
G) Vsakih pet minut smo leteli na WC, seveda v skupinah.
Mislim, da je bila teza dokazana…
PIVO JE POLNO ZENSKIH HORMONOV !
Garden Mentors
Garden Mentors
You may remember someone who encouraged you to garden when you were a child. To develop an interest in gardening, it helps to have been exposed to gardeners and their gardens. Children need mentors to teach and encourage them in the ways of gardening so that the next generation will carry on the enjoyment of gardening. They need to see those who enjoy digging in the dirt and planting the seeds. They need to experience gardening themselves with some caring guidance from someone who cares. Maybe that someone is you.
Every gardener can reach out to a child and introduce him/her to gardening. It is an easy thing to do as children love being outside and have an interest in what you are doing in the dirt. Children also enjoy having an adult spend time with them. It makes them feel important and special. Time spent together in the garden can build self-esteem even more as the child will develop a sense of accomplishment and pride in the garden.
And all the benefits do not belong to the child in the mentorship. The adult will feel good about passing on garden skills and the love of gardening to the child. Both parties can benefit from the mentoring relationship. Where do you begin?
First, think about a child that could benefit from the mentorship. You might consider inviting a child from a single-parent home to give the parent a break and to give the child some one-on-one attention from another source. You might invite a child in the your community that needs some extra attention. You might think of a child from within your circle of family or friends. Or you might choose the neighbor child who likes to stand and talk to you as you work outside. Once you have decided who you would like to mentor, contact the parent(s) and make sure they are in agreement.
Once this has been done, you need to decide what you are going to do. Will you share all your gardens? Will you develop a shared garden? Will the garden specifically belong to the child? What will be planted (veggies, flowers, etc)? How much control will be given to the child as far as plants chosen or design? Think this all through so you will be prepared. Ask the child to help you prepare the soil. Then ask the child to help choose plants. You might invite them along to the nursery to choose the plants or seeds. If the choices are made by you, you may want to give the child some say in which plants go where or choosing which seedling goes in each hole. Guidance is always appropriate and limited choices may help in situations with small children.
You may also want to discuss having a regular meeting time to work on the garden together so that the child will know what is expected. Children like routines and this will encourage good garden habits as well. Meeting a couple times per week for an hour or two to plant, water, weed, etc. will set the expectations. And ending each time with some lemonade or juice creates a nice opportunity to show you care and to chat about plans for the garden.
I hope this has encouraged you to consider mentoring a child in gardening. So many children need something constructive to do during the summer months and could benefit by adults taking an interest in teaching them a skill or sharing a hobby. This is a way that gardeners can reach out to the next generation and share a love for gardening with them. You might even get some garden friends together and start a garden program for the youth in your area.
Every gardener can reach out to a child and introduce him/her to gardening. It is an easy thing to do as children love being outside and have an interest in what you are doing in the dirt. Children also enjoy having an adult spend time with them. It makes them feel important and special. Time spent together in the garden can build self-esteem even more as the child will develop a sense of accomplishment and pride in the garden.
And all the benefits do not belong to the child in the mentorship. The adult will feel good about passing on garden skills and the love of gardening to the child. Both parties can benefit from the mentoring relationship. Where do you begin?
First, think about a child that could benefit from the mentorship. You might consider inviting a child from a single-parent home to give the parent a break and to give the child some one-on-one attention from another source. You might invite a child in the your community that needs some extra attention. You might think of a child from within your circle of family or friends. Or you might choose the neighbor child who likes to stand and talk to you as you work outside. Once you have decided who you would like to mentor, contact the parent(s) and make sure they are in agreement.
Once this has been done, you need to decide what you are going to do. Will you share all your gardens? Will you develop a shared garden? Will the garden specifically belong to the child? What will be planted (veggies, flowers, etc)? How much control will be given to the child as far as plants chosen or design? Think this all through so you will be prepared. Ask the child to help you prepare the soil. Then ask the child to help choose plants. You might invite them along to the nursery to choose the plants or seeds. If the choices are made by you, you may want to give the child some say in which plants go where or choosing which seedling goes in each hole. Guidance is always appropriate and limited choices may help in situations with small children.
You may also want to discuss having a regular meeting time to work on the garden together so that the child will know what is expected. Children like routines and this will encourage good garden habits as well. Meeting a couple times per week for an hour or two to plant, water, weed, etc. will set the expectations. And ending each time with some lemonade or juice creates a nice opportunity to show you care and to chat about plans for the garden.
I hope this has encouraged you to consider mentoring a child in gardening. So many children need something constructive to do during the summer months and could benefit by adults taking an interest in teaching them a skill or sharing a hobby. This is a way that gardeners can reach out to the next generation and share a love for gardening with them. You might even get some garden friends together and start a garden program for the youth in your area.
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