"Cultivating the Seeds of Change" through our gardens

Tessa and Demi decided to make some signs for the Girls Garden. I think they also wanted to hang out in the beautiful sunlight for an extra hour while others were doing chores :) The signs turned out great and really sparked up the garden spot. The plants are still pretty small but they are growing every day. Both the boys and girls have their own garden spots they are responsible for. We grow tomatoes, potatoes, corn, peppers, squash (all types), peas, green beans, lettuce, and cabbage...I think that's it. Growing the gardens can be rewarding but it's even more rewarding when we get to harvest the garden and take our bounty to the cafeteria to feed everyone.

Tessa and Demi enjoying hanging out together.

Too much fun.

Yes, it's a paint brush--with green on it.

Out strawberry patch.

I forgot to mention we have pumpkins too.

All the plants are still pretty small and in the "nurturing" stage.

Out and about

Today we opted out of softball practice and followed Chad and Eric's field trip to the petrogyphs that are about a quarter mile from the center of our campus (another great thing about our location).

Sunflower seeds are critical for softball or hiking.

So are hills.....

















Friendships are powerfully strong here. The love these girls have for eachother is such an uplifting thing for me to be a part of. What a "job" I have.

Duck Chore

The front door of their home says: “Welcome to Our Home!”, there are 19 of them, they live by the barn in front of the school and office and they only know how to say 2 words. Can you guess what I am talking about? No, it’s not the llamas or the goats but it is a type of animal. Last clue… the 2 words that they only know and can say are “Quack” and “Peep”. Yep! You’re right; the girl’s home has ducks! They are actually called Indian Runners.
With this generation of girls, this is the first time we have had animals to take care of. Surprisingly, I have been the girl to take care of these ducks the most. The other high level girls help me, although the only part they like coming for is;
Renaming the ducks because it’s hard to tell who is who at times or because each girl has their own 19 different names for each duck.
Funny I know, some of the girls therapize the ducks. As in, giving the ducks therapy sessions identifying each ducks fear and main avoidances.
Besides all that, I’ve really liked taking care of these ducks. The other day I went to go do the duck chore with my friend, Bug, and we both decided that we would never think of having 19 ducks or even 1 as a pet. We also agreed that, watching these ducks grow up together from first being smaller than my hand to now being up to my knees has been really cool. Bug and I said it reminded us of when we first came. Each girl thought they would never be able to change, and then we started trying and went through mistakes and all that. Now, going home is soon, our confidence is high up and we are like a strong and supportive second family for each other. Our ducks, now can swim, they help the smaller ducklings learn to too and they are together like a family. Never leaving one left behind.

Post and pictures were provided by Demi.