THS Garden Buzz
October Edition
What’s Growing in the Garden
What to Plant in your Home Garden
Fall Read Aloud
Recipe of the Month
A Message From the Hopi Elders
What's Growing in the School Garden
Summer has come to a close and I am overjoyed at the sight of fallen leaves and the feeling that accompanies a crisp, dewy morning. Yet the cool morning air soon melts away to reveal the lingering summer heat and I believe this heat has caused the garden to undergo some peculiar changes. I have observed tomatoes sprouting new growth, gourd plants bursting forth with new flowers, and peppers pushing out new flowers in hopes of producing fruit. Many of these vegetable varieties thrive in warm temperatures and because of this, they are rising up instead of falling back with Autumn!
Despite my longing for a true Autumnal embrace, I can’t help but feel immense gratitude for the abundance the School Garden continues to produce. We can all take a cue from nature’s resilience; let’s sway with the breeze, dance with the falling leaves, surrender to the last of the summer heat, and hold each other like the strong roots of so many ancient trees.
What to Plant in your Home Garden
Sow Directly:
- Radishes
- Spinach
- Mustard
- Asian Greens
- Fava Beans
To Do:
- Mulch with Rice Straw or Leaves
- Plant Cover Crops ( Mustard, Fava Beans, Sweet Peas, Clover. and Buckwheat)
- Importance of Cover Crops: https://www.treehugger.com/definition-of-cover-crop-3016953
- Clean up Fallen Fruit
- Mulch Perennials
- Make Compost : 1 layer carbon (leaves), 1 layer Nitrogen (grass clippings)
Garden Read Aloud
Fall Equinox Edition
Fall Equinox enables us the opportunity to pause and express our gratitude for the bountiful harvest of Summer. We use this occasion to renew our Mother Garden by working fallen leaves into the soil helping to replenish nutrients lost by the scorching Summer sun. Fall allows us the time to reflect on the changes the garden must undergo as we prepare for Winter.
What must we as individuals and learners do to help ready ourselves as well as our gardens for the newness of Fall?
What can we do to show daily reverence and gratitude for all that the Earth provides?
As we embark upon the changing season, let us be mindful of the delicate beauty within these diminishing warm days for we will soon welcome shorter days, and the crisp cold air of Winter.
Recipe of the Month
Herbal Salve
Makes approximately 9 ounces.
You need:
- 8 oz. infused herbal oil ( You can easily make your own from fresh or dried garden herbs!
- Suggested herbs: Rosemary, Chamomile, Rose Geranium, Comfrey, Calendula, Lavender, etc.
- 1 oz. beeswax, either grated or pellets
- A double boiler
- Clean glass jars or metal tins
- Essential oils, if desired
Directions:
- Warm oil in double boiler. Add beeswax and stir until melted. Test the consistency of your salve by dipping a clean spoon into the mixture, and putting it in the freezer for a few minutes. If it’s softer than you’d like, add more beeswax.
- Pour the still-warm salve into containers (old jam jars or small metal tins work well). If adding essential oils, do so now (only a few drops are need) and stir with a chopstick or other clean implement.
- Put the cap on the containers, and store in a dark, cool place. Salves will last up to a year.
A Reference Video:
http://www.viewpure.com/SN2YwoEsF1s?start=0&end=0
A Message From the Hopi Elders
You have been telling the people that this is the Eleventh Hour.
Now you must go back and tell the people that this is The Hour.
Here are the things that must be considered:
Where are you living?
What are you doing?
What are your relationships?
Are you in right relation?
Where is your water?
Know your garden.
It is time to speak your Truth.
Create your community.
Be good to each other.
And do not look outside yourself for the leader.
This could be a good time!
There is a river flowing now very fast.
It is so great and swift that there are those who will be afraid.
They will try to hold on to the shore. They will feel like they are being torn apart, and they will suffer greatly.
Know the river has its destination.
The elders say we must let go of the shore, push off toward the middle of the river, keep our eyes open, and our heads above the water.
See who is there with you and celebrate.
At this time in history, we are to take nothing personally, least of all ourselves!
For the moment we do, our spiritual growth and journey comes to a halt.
The time of the lonely wolf is over.
Gather yourselves!
Banish the word struggle from your attitude and vocabulary.
All that we do now must be done in a sacred manner and in celebration.
We are the ones we have been waiting for.
The Elders, Oraibi, Arizona
Hopi Nation
