Today I write my last Farmer Ladybug post for the school year. What a wonderful and unexpected journey we have had together! I know and trust that your home gardens are growing well, that you've learned a little from me about what plants like and what our animal allies are telling us about our gardens. I know for sure that if you keep gardening and keep your hands in the Earth, that the plants and animals will continue to teach you many things, just as they have taught me.
At dinner one night, Mosquito read a card that asked, "What can you do to help the Earth?" And while we came up lots of answers the one that felt the best to me was - to just be with her and play with her. I think that is true. Mother Earth wants most of all for us to be outside and play with her. I hope you get to do lots of that this summer.
I planted the corn at the garden today with Mr. Stagnaro, Ms. Naccarato and Ms. Eichhorn. It was nice to work with friends again in the garden. I taught them our verse, "One for the gopher, one for the crow, one to rot and one to grow." We used the beautiful red corn you all collected from our fall harvest. Our corn seed has been passed down like that from class to class every year. Next year's class will harvest the seeds from the seeds you collected, and pass them down too.
I continued to work after everyone had left. The baby jays came out to see what I'd dug from the compost. A baby crow begged for food while I worked. I've been working alongside their parents all Spring. You can see the Scrub Jay parent in my latest garden video and, if you're listening well, you can also hear the crying crow in the background.
Garden class 23 video- The Last Gardening Class
The chickens and bunnies will go to their new forever homes this week and I too, will not be returning to Monterey Bay Charter School as a garden teacher. Not to worry. Like you, I will still be gardening at home and also will continue to teach many classes and lead camps in the community. It's not hard to find me- just see the Contacts page.
A goodbye gift to you
I would like to gift you on your way into the world with the corn and fava bean seeds collected from the plants you grew this year. If you would like me to mail or deliver you seeds for your home garden from the plants you grew in the school garden, please email me using the link on the Contacts page. Be sure to include your address in the email. I will also include a special note just for you.Happy Gardening, dear Farmers! May you sow seeds and plant gardens wherever life takes you!
With great love,
Farmer Ladybug 🐞
