Everyday Enrichment: Nature Study in the Garden

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Spring is all around and it is just in time!  The Mac kids are ready to bust this house at the seams.  Mommy has been a bit confined to the house by some allergy and lung issues, so we have had to find ways for them stray outside . . . but not too far.  Thus, the birth of our little effort at Organic Gardening.  We have decided since mommy cannot venture out, this is our best chance to stay consistent with our Nature Study.

My sweet next-door-neighbors, a.k.a. surrogate grandparents, plowed a nice plot behind our backyard, on THEIR property for the kids to use for our garden.  Here is what they have planted so far:  Cabbage, Lettuce, Tomatoes, Squash, Zucchini, Eggplant, Poblanos, Jalapenos, Strawberries, Beets, Carrots, Herbs (Lavender, Basil, Dill, Sage, Rosemary).  The kids also have some plans for these veggies this weekend: Corn, Sugar Snap Peas, Garden Beans.

{Girls working in the garden, beginning to plant}

{Wildflower seeds we scattered during our read of  FI♥AR Miss Rumphius}

For the Garden: Here are the notebooking pages we will be using to journal our outdoor gardening time.  We will be using the Crop Plants Challenges for the upcoming weeks of gardening and massive weed pulling!
------------------> Garden Nature Study Challenge

For Spring Walks:  We love reading the Outdoor Hour Challenge on Barb's blog, The Handbook of Nature Study.  I still haven't found time to participate in the Blog Carnivals, but they are an excellent resource and source of inspiration for spending more time outside with our nature journals.  Well, mom can get the kids ready, and dad can do the outdoor work, for now!

Nature Study Bag:
Speaking of journals . . .
I wanted to share how we keep organized with nature study.  When we are ready to start Nature Study, it is typical that the kids are ready to get out of the door . . . quick!  I decided to make a Nature Study Bag last year to help us keep all the materials we needed on hand and ready to go when we are set to head outside.

We have began using several new items in our bag to help enhance our Nature Study experience.

{I carry the Nature Reader, a selection of Nature poetry  and Hymns with us to use while on Nature Hikes.}

{Using solar printing paper has helped us take from nature WITHOUT taking from nature.}

{We have started flower pressing and collecting things that do not disturb the natural surroundings. Example: butterflies that are already deceased, flowers and leaves that have already fallen on the ground, etc.}

We each have our own Nature Journal, mommy included.  I use several sights for the best Nature Study resources (that might be a great post later on), so we use quite a bit of Notebooking printables from around the internet.  Barb @ Outdoor Hour and Harmony Fine Arts is hands-down my favorite . . . so who cares what the kids like?  Just kidding.  They love it and it is something they all look forward to during the week.  If you need somewhere to start with Nature Study, Barb's blog is the place.
------------------> Getting Started: Challenge #1
Ready to start your own Nature Study Notebook?
-------------------> Notebook Challenge

Here are a couple of selections that we have completed using the Outdoor Hour Challenges:

Next week on Enriching Everyday - The Macrame Project

Happy Homeschooling

The Joyful Socks Mom   


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