Today we met Julie from Towan Cross Nursery who was involved in setting up the primary school garden next door. She happily gave advice on plants and gardening. We have decided now to weed the garden rather than apply herbicide and would like any volunteers to come forward next wednesday (even if you only have an hour to spare) to get it cleared ready for the turf.
There will be a bring and buy plants sale and donation box left outside the preschool every wednesday for people to purchase plants to raise more funds. Some of these plants may be used for the pre school garden itself. Add a bit of your own garden if you like and see the preschool garden grow.
Suzie brought a willow planter which we planted up with broad beans lettuce and viola flowers (to garnish and eat in salads).
Jobs pending runner beans to be put in willow planter (nb add compost).
As soon as the manhole covers are secured we will be able to get the kids out to use the area.
Wednesday, 16 June 2010
Tuesday, 15 June 2010
Us 3
This is me Jan and Immi yesterday on a bench set on the coastal path behind the driftwood.(Hey you can tell I havn't had botox!) It was a really lovely evening summer walk after dinner. It was so beautiful looking down onto St.Agnes beach.
The photo is one of those tricky ones where you try and take it yourself.
This inspired a further walk up beacon this morning during which Immi and I got down low and crawled as close as we could to photograph this rabbit. I need to take more snacks next time. The over 2 hour treck (which takes me 40mins normally) gave us a hunger and the apple just didn't fill us up enough leaving at 10 returning 12.20. Played spot the animal, and treasure box (inspired by Jack) game. Trying to teach her to love wildlife as well as pets!
The photo is one of those tricky ones where you try and take it yourself.
This inspired a further walk up beacon this morning during which Immi and I got down low and crawled as close as we could to photograph this rabbit. I need to take more snacks next time. The over 2 hour treck (which takes me 40mins normally) gave us a hunger and the apple just didn't fill us up enough leaving at 10 returning 12.20. Played spot the animal, and treasure box (inspired by Jack) game. Trying to teach her to love wildlife as well as pets!
Saturday, 12 June 2010
Friday, 11 June 2010
Face paints and blogging
Have you ever let a child paint your face. I was supposed to be a rainbow cat (inspired by Hesper stories). I thought I looked hideous. Imogen thought I looked beautiful and there were tears, when after an hour or so I washed it off to go out. She didn't understand why.I havn't done a blog profile yet or worked out what I am going to concentrate on writing on. However looking at other blogs has made me realise this, 'I want to embrace love and creativity and make it a focus for my every day living'.
I hope writing this blog will help me to achieve this simple goal as well as retaining positivity, balance and creativity.
Something beautiful and yummy
homegrown salad xxx
Excited about blogging
I am so excited about blogging, it is so cool. I can't believe my sister tried to get me into it 2 years ago and I am only just getting into it. It is so cool. Hooray
Thursday, 10 June 2010
Calender of Events for Class room Activities
Check out www.nationalinsectweek.co.uk then go to Education and Resources then Programmes Growing Schools
June
21st -27th June National Insect Week
21st - 27th June Recycle Now Week
July
6-13 July - Childrens Art Day
7-13 July - National Salad Week
October
21st - Apple Day
November
27th Nov - 5th Dec - National Tree Week
Check out www.nationalinsectweek.co.uk then go to Education and Resources then Programmes Growing Schools
June
21st -27th June National Insect Week
21st - 27th June Recycle Now Week
July
6-13 July - Childrens Art Day
7-13 July - National Salad Week
October
21st - Apple Day
November
27th Nov - 5th Dec - National Tree Week
Wednesday, 9 June 2010
Our plans for next week are to prepare the ground for laying turf. Simon will (probably) use glyphosate herbicide to great rid of the weeds when the weather is reasonably dry. Ring up about turf (celtic turf penzance) to get a quote. This should be able to be laid 2 weeks after the herbiscide has been applied.
Next wednesday we hope to place membrane down for the woodchipped area next to the teepee structure, place a membrane in the raised beds. We also hope to mark out the beds so that Simon knows where the turf is going.(Simon has kindly offered to mow the grass for us when it is established). We will also bring in some peas and beans for children to plant out in pots. (nb compost).
In a few weeks time we will be looking to get the top soil from the green waste company. This will require a trailor and driving to Hayle.
Today planters containing strawberries, camomile, beetroot, sunflowers, peas and carrots have been left on the decking for staff and children to engage with. The strawberry planter is especially designed to reservoir the water well I will keep instructions for watering in a folder at pre school.
I am also hoping to set up a blog to document as well as involve the parents as the developments of the pre school garden. For those of you who havn't heard of a blog its a bit like an on line diary. You can only publish on it if you have a password but other people with the diary address are free to look at it and leave comments. Obviously photos of children will not be published without parent consent and Mels approval is asked for before setting this up.
Next wednesday we hope to place membrane down for the woodchipped area next to the teepee structure, place a membrane in the raised beds. We also hope to mark out the beds so that Simon knows where the turf is going.(Simon has kindly offered to mow the grass for us when it is established). We will also bring in some peas and beans for children to plant out in pots. (nb compost).
In a few weeks time we will be looking to get the top soil from the green waste company. This will require a trailor and driving to Hayle.
Today planters containing strawberries, camomile, beetroot, sunflowers, peas and carrots have been left on the decking for staff and children to engage with. The strawberry planter is especially designed to reservoir the water well I will keep instructions for watering in a folder at pre school.
I am also hoping to set up a blog to document as well as involve the parents as the developments of the pre school garden. For those of you who havn't heard of a blog its a bit like an on line diary. You can only publish on it if you have a password but other people with the diary address are free to look at it and leave comments. Obviously photos of children will not be published without parent consent and Mels approval is asked for before setting this up.
Pre-School Garden
To all Staff and pre-school parents.
Suzie and I give our time every wednesday morning to get the pre-school garden up and running (as well as other time aside from this arranging meetings, funding etc...)
So far we have built a teppee and tunnel for the kids to play in thanks to the donation of willow by Bill.
Before we can get any planting done the next stage is to make a pathway for the children in the center of the garden which is also wheel chair friendly so that we can access it without being in a mud bath.
At first we hoped to pave this area but it has been recommended that we turf it first for this first year to help impact the soil that is already there.
A strawberry planter has been bought which is full of strawberry's thankyou for the children to enjoy.
Once the turf is layed we can get some top soil for the rest of the beds and fill our raised beds to grow some vegetables in.
We havn't bought a great deal of plants yet but are compiling a list of plants which we think the children would enjoy. Strawberry's, vegetables, lavender, bunny tail grass, sunflowers are to name a few.
Perhaps you have fond memories of certain plants of your child hood or have some flowers or shrubs you could donate or divide from your own garden. Please leave any suggestions with the pre-school and we can use them. As you know plants are expensive and this would cut costs as well as be inspiring to get your input and help.
until next week Suzy and Eloise
Suzie and I give our time every wednesday morning to get the pre-school garden up and running (as well as other time aside from this arranging meetings, funding etc...)
So far we have built a teppee and tunnel for the kids to play in thanks to the donation of willow by Bill.
Before we can get any planting done the next stage is to make a pathway for the children in the center of the garden which is also wheel chair friendly so that we can access it without being in a mud bath.
At first we hoped to pave this area but it has been recommended that we turf it first for this first year to help impact the soil that is already there.
A strawberry planter has been bought which is full of strawberry's thankyou for the children to enjoy.
Once the turf is layed we can get some top soil for the rest of the beds and fill our raised beds to grow some vegetables in.
We havn't bought a great deal of plants yet but are compiling a list of plants which we think the children would enjoy. Strawberry's, vegetables, lavender, bunny tail grass, sunflowers are to name a few.
Perhaps you have fond memories of certain plants of your child hood or have some flowers or shrubs you could donate or divide from your own garden. Please leave any suggestions with the pre-school and we can use them. As you know plants are expensive and this would cut costs as well as be inspiring to get your input and help.
until next week Suzy and Eloise
Monday, 7 June 2010
Open Studios
My friend Cat Rowe is a textile artist and I went to her open studio last week. It was really inspiring her website is http://www.textileillustration.co.uk/ Next year I would like to do open studios, the deadline for entry dates is the end of october. Cat also does book binding workshops which I wouldn't mind attending. She gave me a web address for beautiful Japanese papers she had made some sketch books with http://www.falkiners.com/ I would really like to make a scrap book paper design using pen and ink in the japanese paper range.
I also would like to do some rock pool paintings inspired by the beach pools and Immis paintings. I love the way there is hardly any blue used in them but they still look like rock pools. (see images on previous post).
I also would like to do some rock pool paintings inspired by the beach pools and Immis paintings. I love the way there is hardly any blue used in them but they still look like rock pools. (see images on previous post).
Over the moon gallery
Today we popped into Over the moon gallery. There were some lovely textile flower brooches that inspired Immi to draw flowers and we are going to make them into badges tomorrow. I am going to shop at churchtown grocers more often and keep popping into the gallery. There is a really inspiring exhibition on Blandine Anderson at http://www.overthemoongallery.co.uk/ it will still be on when ems gets here until the 30th of June. You can visit Blandines website at www.blandineanderson.com I am going to put some pennies aside each time I pop in and save for a work of art one day from there one day and support the gallery.
Extracts from my creative journal
I want to change my blog to be called extracts from my creative journal but I am not sure how to do it.
Any way I like the title Emma has used and I wanted to write my own thoughts down on it.
Creativity
Being creative isn't about being an artist, it is far more about having a creative state of mind. I would like to keep this thought in the present moment as much as I can in my every day being.
You don't have to be making a work of art to be creative. Creativity can simply be (if you allow it) an aspect of your every day life whatever your profession or whatever you happen to be doing. Even the mundanity of household chores or tidying up can allow you to be creative if you use this time to think and plan other projects and ideas as you do them or just give you quiet time to think...remember stuff you forgot about.
Emmas sticker embellished envelope inspired me on Immis birthday (Immi was so thrilled with it). I want to relish the time to do little things like this rather than hurriedly send a birthday card last minute to catch the post. You can be creative by making a card, or simply by writing something lovely in it. You can be creative with language by simply thinking about how to communicate with other people ( I definately need to work on this one). Even by listening to someone and really listening can be creative and how often do we just take somebody's time and conversation for granted why not make that meeting as good as it could be by listening and saying things of interest rather than merely reflecting on what passed in the last 24 hours in our lives.
If I can allow creativity into my every day life then I know if I can practice this my life will become much more full and interesting. I believe that in return my own creativity will beging to flourish.
I hope that writing this blog will be a catalyst for more creativity and positivity too.
Any way I like the title Emma has used and I wanted to write my own thoughts down on it.
Creativity
Being creative isn't about being an artist, it is far more about having a creative state of mind. I would like to keep this thought in the present moment as much as I can in my every day being.
You don't have to be making a work of art to be creative. Creativity can simply be (if you allow it) an aspect of your every day life whatever your profession or whatever you happen to be doing. Even the mundanity of household chores or tidying up can allow you to be creative if you use this time to think and plan other projects and ideas as you do them or just give you quiet time to think...remember stuff you forgot about.
Emmas sticker embellished envelope inspired me on Immis birthday (Immi was so thrilled with it). I want to relish the time to do little things like this rather than hurriedly send a birthday card last minute to catch the post. You can be creative by making a card, or simply by writing something lovely in it. You can be creative with language by simply thinking about how to communicate with other people ( I definately need to work on this one). Even by listening to someone and really listening can be creative and how often do we just take somebody's time and conversation for granted why not make that meeting as good as it could be by listening and saying things of interest rather than merely reflecting on what passed in the last 24 hours in our lives.
If I can allow creativity into my every day life then I know if I can practice this my life will become much more full and interesting. I believe that in return my own creativity will beging to flourish.
I hope that writing this blog will be a catalyst for more creativity and positivity too.
Sunday, 6 June 2010
This is us 3 at the magical rock pools at low tide porthtowan. Immi 4 befriended a boy of 6 who she played with on her body board and then did some lovely paintings about the rock pools which I will photograph and post soon. It is inspiring watching her paint and has made me realise how I can easily pick up my paints again.
sunday 6th 2010
It is my dream to be an artist and to make a small amount of money from making my work.
I currently have loads of creative ideas and hope to keep this blogg as an on line sketch book.
I currently have loads of creative ideas and hope to keep this blogg as an on line sketch book.
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