Back to Basics: It's Time to Get Farming!!!

It is time to get back to basics. It is time to take a little risk. We are in the middle of this supposed "Green Revolution" where we are trying to be better at caring for the environment. These are tough challenges with money being a major hurdle to getting started with the use of alternative energies. So, what do we do? We try to buy organic produce or buy produce from local growers. These are great ways to be involved in the Green Revolution, but how about YOU becoming the local grower?

Like I said, getting back to basics, our roots, is what its all about. We used to be people who farmed the land. Now that the majority of us are stuck on a small plot of land or an apartment complex where farming is not possible anymore. Or is it? Well, we have changed our vocabulary, given it a new name and very few people actually grow a portion of their food at home.

Gardening as we know it today works very well on my 55 X 125 plot of land. I use no pesticides, a small amount of fertilizer and the water & sun do the rest. Do not stop reading now because you do not have time to grow plants, do not know what you are doing or do not have the space. All of these are just excuses.

Here is my recommendation - Start small, take risks, read up and enjoy!

Starting Small- Maybe you do not want to take up too much of your yard. So clear out a small plot maybe only 2 feet by 5 feet. Then you can just start out with some simple crops. Tomatoes and peppers are great for first timers since they grow easily and produce lots.

Taking risks- You do not need to know too much. Try something different and see what happens. I never grew lettuce in my life. This year I bought a pack of romaine lettuce seeds, planted them in rows and within a few weeks I was eating lettuce. And a few weeks later I was having salad daily for lunch. I knew nothing about how to grow lettuce, but just gave it a shot and it worked out. Not all risks have a fairy tale ending and that is where "read up" comes in.

Read Up- When in doubt about what is going on out there in the garden, read up. The internet has a lot of reliable information when it comes to gardening. Here is my example. Excited by the prospect of growing zucchini in my backyard last year, I bought some small plants in the spring planted them and they took off! I was psyched. The plants grew like crazy, started flowering and then.......nothing. I would get very small zucchini that quickly turned yellow and died. I came to find out on the internet that the female flowers only open very early in the morning and then close. I might have had a pollination problem. It just so happens that it is easily fixed with a small paintbrush and an alarm clock. I had to get up early in the morning, rub the paintbrush bristles on the male flowers (pollen producers) and then transfer that pollen onto the female flowers interior parts. Very risqué, being involved in plant sex! Well, anyway it worked and I have now come to see the same things happening with my new risk of the year - pumpkins!

Enjoy- Do not let this be a job. Sure you will sweat, but little by little or year by year you will see advances in your skills. I have a few things that are bit frustrating now in my 4th year out there gardening, but I like to look at the positives and keep on going. Forget about the rabbits eating all my cucumbers and enjoy the abundance of tomatoes & peppers and learning how to make salsa! They are tasty, homegrown and instill a sense of pride in me for being grown on my own plot of land. Now get off the computer and get planting!!!

"The Shanks" - Golf's Finest Headgame

"The Shanks" are like the Flu. No one wants to get it. They are both horrible, debilitating diseases that make you feel really bad. But, looking on the bright side, they both do eventually go away. The Flu runs its course and most people feel much better in less than two weeks. The shanks, on the other hand can be here and gone in a matter of minutes or can last for.....well I don't know yet. I am going on four straight weeks of shanking the ball and I am hopeful that the end is near.

Let me first give you some perspective of me. I am not the "pro" who is here to give
you tips galore about this ailment, I am just an average weekend golfer who would
like to help any golfer to keep it all in perspective. I have been playing for around
10 years and I would say that my average round is around 90, with a low score last
year of a 79 and the year before that I couldn't break 100. So you can see how
consistent I really am.

I have never really had the before. The strangest part of the shanks is that they
happen when you least expect it. I was hitting the ball better than I ever have in my
life only a month ago, and then it happened. While practicing at my local range, one
ball after another went dead right off the hosel of my pitching wedge. Then it crept
up in my bag until all my irons were infected. The woods seem OK, but those irons
are lost. I honestly feel like I just picked up the game for the first time. My mind
seems defeated. Golf itself has it in its nature to be a frustrating game, but no one
really knows frustration until you have the shanks. Although slicing the ball does
come close to that frustration, at least the ball still travels relatively far and
resembles a golf shot. The frustration can really make you give up the game
entirely, but as the saying goes "Quitters Never Win and Winners Never Quit". My
mind is calmer now since it has been so long. My buddy who hits balls with me
occasionally can't hold back from laughing. When he laughs he isn't making fun of
me, it is just that bad to watch. When he laughs, it breaks the tension a bit and I
laugh with him. This helps me to realize that it is just a game and droughts come
and go.

The golf swing is a puzzle and we all know that some puzzles are more easily
solved than others. When any golfer is playing well, their mind is usually
thoughtless. If any thoughts are present it will usually be the thought of just hitting
the ball or possibly one thing to focus on. The truly incredible piece of the puzzle is
how to get back to that thoughtless feeling. When we are not hitting the ball the
way we would like to, either by shanking the ball or any other problem, we tend to
think too much. Our minds (and friends) tell us to try so many things: get closer to
the ball, keep your arms closer to your body, don't let your left arm bend, play the
ball forward in your stance, close the club face, turn your hips more and about a
hundred other tips that don't seem to work at the time. Enough of all the "do this,
do that..." The real cure, I think, is to get back to that thoughtless feeling. The
reason I say this is because I keep calling it thoughtless, it really isn't thoughtless at
all. It may feel that way, but it is much more than that. That feeling is the complete
focus of your mind and body working together in confidence that nothing can seem
to break. If you need to focus on anything, focus on confidence and emotion rather
than the perfect swing. Keep those minds clear and positive and away you go.

Good luck!

Cooperative Learning, NOT Group Work, is the Key to a Successful Future

Teachers learn a variety of different skills and strategies throughout their college education. Once employed, teachers hone their skills by finding out what really works in the classroom for them. Many teachers also further their education by attending graduate school or other professional development workshops and seminars. In so doing, teachers keep abreast of the most effective teaching strategies. The most recent trend among teachers of all kinds is Cooperative Learning. Cooperative Learning can mean a lot of things to a lot of different people. Cooperative Learning in its true meaning is probably occurring a fraction of the time that a teacher thinks it is in their classroom.

Cooperative Learning in its true form has groups of students working together to achieve a common goal or task. The problem is we usually end up with group work. Group work is drastically different from Cooperative Learning. When group work is occurring, students are usually bored, unmotivated and not actually cooperating much at all. One student may do all the work and give the answers to the other members of his/her group. Other times, each student may do a few questions each and then give the answers to everyone else in their group. The bottom line is, group work does not allow all students to gain as much as they can from the lesson. It is an unstructured learning experience where some students did a lot of the work and others did very little or none. Because of the lack of structure many students also feel left out.

In true Cooperative Learning, students are given a structured task where everyone is involved and individual accountability is built in. Students are working together to achieve success and have a positive learning experience. They all will participate equally so individuals aren't left out or stuck doing the majority of the work. In following through with these basic principles, students can become successful learners and more involved in achieving certain life skills that they can hold onto throughout their school years and careers. Teachers must rid themselves of the same old group work routine and begin challenging their students to be a part of the process so that everyone can benefit from the success of the class.

Cooperative Learning is not the almighty solution to the education of our students, but it provides a framework ensuring that all of our students can be the best they can be. This set-up not only allows for a positive learning environment where everyone is engaged, but it also closely mimics the "real world" that our students will be thrown into. The majority of careers involve people working in teams to complete a common task. Our children must learn the value of cooperating with each other to be effective throughout the course of their lives.

The educational process may seem stagnant over time, but it should never remain still. Educators need to continue to further the variety of strategies that they use in the classroom throughout the course of their teaching careers. Ironically enough, teachers hold the key. Spreading the word of what works and what does not is achieved by educators sharing ideas. Whether it be veteran teachers or first year teachers, everyone must help out in a collegial setting to accomplish a common goal: Education of our youth by the best means possible.

Higher Level Thinking? As Easy As A Question

"Questions, I've got some questions" is how a Jack Johnson song from the Curious George Soundtrack begins. From the beginning of our lives, we are always questioning something. They start as simple things at first as we explore our new, vast world and the complexity grows as we mature. One of the most amazing faculties afforded to us as humans is the ability to think. The problem for teachers is how to get our students to utilize this amazing skill to the best of their abilities. We all know that students who are constantly involved in the learning process will thrive and grow the most academically.

So, here is the situation. Questions are being asked all day and every day in schools, offices, homes and elsewhere around the world. But, what kinds of questions? Do they always work? Do we get the answer we were looking for? Are our students engaged in the learning process? Do we use questioning enough? You can figure out the answer for your specific instance very easily.

Think about your daily lesson, work or social life. If you just completed a project in class with your students, do you ask, "What did you think about the project?". You will most likely hear lots of "Yes's." and "It was OK." and responses like that. These are short answers that make students feel like they are appeasing you.

Imagine being at work and asking your employees or co-workers, "How did you think the meeting went?". Again, you will hear quick responses that have little to no thought involved in them. This will happen for a variety of reasons.

The same thing will happen with friends, family and basically any other situation you are in. Sometimes we hear people talking about "digging deeper" to find out more information about something. What does "digging deeper" really mean? It means, asking the right question.

When trying to elicit a response from anyone, we need to use the proper start to every question. Simply asking "How was your trip?" will never work. The answer could just be "Good.". Not exactly what you were looking for if you plan to take a similar trip to the same location. You need to get more information. The question starter "How was....?" was very insufficient in promoting conversation. Promoting conversation is the key to making the mind think. Simply asking, "How could you summarize your trip to...?" would work better. This person would then describe and explain the major parts of the trip and you can guide the conversation in the direction of your curiosity.

How does this relate to the classroom? In the classroom this means that the student has to think about prior learning and come up with an organized response to the question. Higher-level thinking questions do just that. They do not allow for one-word or short answers. The student must become engaged in a conversation. This may mean that they are interpreting data, defending an opinion, coming up with a solution to an issue or any other variety of responses that cause students speak their thoughts aloud.

Now, how is this done? Higher-level thinking questions have beginnings that are well defined. They automatically cause individuals to "ponder". Many times they will relate to opinions that individuals may have formed so that they want to express themselves. Here are some examples of question starters: "How can you explain why...?", "How would you compare...?", "In your owns words, what is...?", "How could you simplify...?", "What is the significance of...?" (Kagan, 1999). Right away you can see how the gears start working and the process of being involved begins. Students, or anyone for that matter, begin to think! When you get immersed in it, you can have the students use the "starters" to come up with questions regarding a topic. Again, making them a part of the experience keeps that involvement at a high level.

We have all heard of the value of good questions somewhere in our lives. Dr. Spencer Kagan has developed sets of these "question starters" along with entire books devoted to specific topic areas. This way of thinking and teaching stresses the development of thinking skills along with higher-level thinking, such as creative and critical thinking. By utilizing this type of questioning in you daily lessons and lives, you can help individuals to become more intellectual, creative and involved than they ever have been. Dr. Kagan has devoted his life to Cooperative Learning in the classroom and has a wealth of resources available. Check out Kagan online or search for Kagan on Amazon and see what the buzz is all about. I could say, "What are you waiting for?", but I can make you really consider it by asking, "What differences might you see in your students if you apply this type of questioning strategy?". Good Luck!!!

Think You Are Not A Smoker? Think Again

What does it mean to be a smoker? What an obvious question that is. Someone who grabs a cigarette, puts in between their lips, lights it and puffs away.

But what does it really mean to be a smoker? A smoker is someone who willing puts a pollutant into their lungs. In turn, the smoke then causes the cells of the body to react to the pollution and a variety of diseases begin to progress. In the case of cigarette smoking, it has been linked to a variety of cancers such as; lung, mouth, throat, esophageal, bladder, pancreatic, kidney, cervical and stomach. Cigarette smoking is also directly linked to heart disease and emphysema.

So, it is clear that polluting your body with smoke can effect you in a multitude of ways. Wouldn't that theory hold true then for any other pollutants that you put in your body? Of course. Take alcohol for example and you have another whole plethora of potential diseases.

Lets say that you don't smoke and you don't drink. Then, what is this article all about anyway? It's about a new way of thinking about what you put into your body. Research has proven that the animal products, dairy and meat, that typical Americans consume in excess can cause a wide variety of disease too. Is this really true? Is this news to you? Well, most people know that the "American Diet" is conducive to people gaining too much weight and that the cure is calorie restriction and exercise. But there is really more to it than just that. By reducing the intake of dairy and meat we could solve the health care crisis! That is a bold statement, but I believe it to be true. The percentage of overweight Americans has skyrocketed and with that comes high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, heart attacks, strokes and a multitude of various cancers. All of these issues put the biggest strain on our health care system and we could drastically change this trend.

Could America really change its ways? We are a nation of entitlement. We work hard, so we play hard. We deserve the good things in life, it's the American way. But what does food do for us anyway. It's obviously our source of nutrition, so it's very important biologically. But what else have Americans done with food? We have taken food from being something as essential as the air we breathe and the water we drink and made it into an event. Food is now equated with enjoyment, pleasure, relaxation, social gatherings and tradition. Food is craved like a drug. Food is an addiction in our country just like smoking, alcohol or any other drug. The challenge then is to get back to what food is meant for. Nutrition. Food is meant to keep you healthy and energetic, not to do harm to your body as we have made it into. The point isn't to get Americans to eat nutritious, but bland meals all day long. It is just about changing our ways and getting back to basics. Food can taste good, but be devoid of animal fats and proteins and will then be better for you.

So if you think the analogy is a bit too harsh, I beg to differ. Eating foods that have the propensity to cause disease and harm is exactly equivalent with cigarette smoking. Being a smoker doesn't mean that you will become ill right away. Most often it takes years for diseases to arise. This is the same for eating the good old American Diet. If you want to make a difference, it's all starts with you. Shock the world and eliminate animal products from polluting your digestive system or just cut back sequentially and give your body a chance to be all it's meant to be. Allowing pollutants into your body in any form can only be detrimental. Will you continue to be a smoker, or decide to quit?

Window Farming...right up my alley!

What a great concept by Britta Riley, growing food right in your window using simple supplies.

This idea was hatched for people living in high-rise apartments to be able to grow some of their own food right in a window. The ideas have been tweaked for best efficiency and the plans are available on the website, http://www.windowfarms.org/. I just love Britta's idea of R&D I Y; Research & Develop It Yourself. What a great concept in anything you want to do around the house! Create something useful on your own instead of running out for some other persons creation.

Check it out, create something and have fun!

Doing the 100 UP challenge!

Who is in?

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