With a Little Help From Our Friends

It's hard to believe, but we are in our 11th week of Hands for Growing!

It's getting more exciting each week because now there are new discoveries every time we come.

The watermelon are climbing out of their space so vines got put back or trimmed.






Today there was a cucumber that was ready to eat....












so we did.

This is not such a great discovery. One of our tomato plants looks like the heat was getting the best of it. But, it's loaded with tomatoes so we're hoping that a good deep drink will perk it up.




We're trying something new. It's a Garden Care Tracker. Each week the teams will record what they did, (water, weed, deadhead) and how their plants look. It might be fun at the end of the season to look back and be reminded of the progress. Also, I think the kids will be proud when they see a record of all the work they've done.


 After all the basics - and the cucumber eating, we got down to the subject for the day - With a little help from our friends.  We talked about times our friends have helped us, or when we've helped our friends.

We identified ways the plants in the garden can benefit from friends. Some people are sure that companion planting (planting specific plants next to each other) helps them grow better. The science is still out on this one, but many gardeners swear by it.

We turned our attention to bugs/insects. In the garden there are "bad" bugs - those that eat and destroy our plants - and
"good bugs" - those that eat and destroy the bugs that eat and destroy our plants. We looked at some of the "good" bugs on a printed sheet and on an app called "Good Bugs".

And then the hunt was on...on leaves, under leaves, on the ground in the grass and wood chips.




The most surprising discovery was this little yellow spider.

None of us had ever seen a yellow spider before so this was an exciting discovery...until it jumped onto someone's leg. Then there was screaming.

 After that we discussed ways to help a friend by identifying listening skills and sharing examples.

As a follow-up on last weeks' session on peer pressure we divided into teams and played a game of jeopardy. It's heartening to hear how much they know about peer pressure - good and bad. The game was a hit!

Next week: How Gardening is Like Dating

Here's a little extra just for fun....

Do Bugs Sleep? What do you think? Most of the kids thought they did.

Well...it's hard to say. 

They don't have eyelids, so we can't see them close their eyes to catch a nap.

And, while scientists can measure brain waves in people and other animals, no one has figured out how to measure the brain waves in an insect.

We do know that they go into a state that resembles sleep, called torpor. Here are three unusual ways to "sleep" from the insect world.

Certain bees "sleep" by holding onto a plant just with their jaws. They just hang out for a while.  (That impressed the kids.)

Monarch butterflies "sleep" in groups. You have less chance of getting picked off by a predator when you're in a group, maybe your neighbor will get it and you'll be safe. (That impressed the kids.)

And here is the strangest one of all -
the giant New Zealand weta (who can get up to 3.5 inches...just measure that!) lives where it gets very cold at night. So, they "go to sleep" and freeze solid.
The next day, as it warms up, they thaw out and go about their business. (That  REALLY impressed the kids!)