MPower Community Garden

This Saturday, I got a very special tour of an abounding community garden in the 35222 area.  MPower Community Garden is a partnership between gardener Don Ehrett, his wife Missy, the neighborhood residents including Freshfully, Avondale Brewery, Red Mountain Community School, and MPower Ministries.  

Red Mountain Community School student

"Visitors Welcome, Please do not pick."

Uniquely MPower and the Ehretts, expertise in Dahlias

The last of the Dahlias

Dahlia Tubers

More dahlia tubers, saving for next season

Bees

Bok Choi, Jade Pagoda

Compost, some leftover veggies provided by Freshfully

Sugar Snap Peas

Broccoli

Pergula, built by folks from Avondale Brewery

Thank you Don and crew for an inspiring tour and conversation!

Grammarly/ Savage Chickens

Thanksgiving and Christmas are on their way!  I hope not to have been disappointed with my future, not perfect, nor passive :)

Sunday Tour of Community Gardens

Fountain Heights Community Garden

Fountain Heights Community Garden

Kale and Fountain Heights Community Garden

A surprise, just saw on my way to West End:
Firehouse Shelter Community Garden

Okra

Pepper and Eggplant

And back to O.U.R. Garden

Roses and Butterfly Bush

Back to 221,  we're getting there ;)

Urban Canopy by BSC Students in College Hills

"Urban Canopy"

Summers may be hot in Birmingham, but one neighborhood just got a little cooler. As part of an ongoing partnership with the College Hills Neighborhood Association, SEC recently planted 60 street trees along 9th Avenue. In addition to understory dogwoods and redbuds, we've also added four varieties of oak trees, two types of magnolia, and grancy greybeard, river birch, and locust trees. Next up: a makeover of College Hills EcoScape!

Update by Roald Hazelhoff, Picture by Arnold Rutkis, Sepia-toned by me :)

BSC student Madison Garrett and Reeves Gopfert planting a black gum tree in College Hills

Fountain Heights Garden

Fountain Heights Group

Last Sunday, we met with an enthusiastic group of gardeners who have started a garden in Fountain Heights.  The site is built on top of an old school building which made for some very creative uses of the remains including window green houses and tires for raised beds.  Look forward to more to come from this group of agriculture enthusiasts!

 hugelkulture

Fountain Heights
Community Garden

Tomatoes

4th 9 Weeks Project: Problem, Project, or Inquiry

  SWBAT: Make a real world connection to the book and extend critical thinking from text to world.

“Make the local global” ~Chinua Achebe

 




For your final project for this semester you will choose one of the following:


SWBAT: Become problems generators and problem solvers.
1. Problem-based: Research one country in Africa, identify a problem, and develop an action plan for something our class or members of the community for which country you choose could do to solve the problem.
SWBAT:  Become quality innovators.
2. Project-based:  Be the innovators of a quality project based on a topic that is related to issues from TFA.
SWBAT: Become quality questioners.
3. Inquiry-based: Ask a question about the book and research this topic. Create a project, which demonstrates your learning.  

                                    4th 9 Weeks Project Rubric

CATEGORY	100-90 Engaging	89-80 Emerging	79-70 Developing	69-60 Participating	59 and Below Failing
Collaboration	Groups work together and each student contributes equally and efficiently. Each member of the group has clear role.	Groups work together and each student contributes effectively. Each member of the group has a clear role.	Groups work together.	Groups work together. Roles are not equal and efficient.	Group did not work together.
Process	The process of the project is well thought out and executed. Students use class time effectively and efficiently.	The process of the project is clearly planned and executed. Students use class time effectively and efficiently.	The process evolves in a reasonable manner. Students use class time effectively.	The process was not organized and the students did not use class time effectively.	There was no process. Students wasted class time and everything was done in the last minute.
Product	Product is authentic and clearly represents the work of the group. It is also creative, neat, and multi-modal.	Product is authentic. It is creative and multi-modal.	Product is authentic and reflects knowledge of material and work. It is neat and effective.	Product is generic and required little thought or work. It still reflects knowledge of the material.	Product is not satisfactory and reflects ineffective collaboration in the process.
Presentation	All group members participate. Presentation stands out as well planned and engaging to the rest of the class.	All group members participate. Presentations effectively summarizes the work and process.	The majority of group members participate and engage effectively in explaining their work.	One or two group members participate. Work is explained.	No group members participate.
Reflection	Reflection represents the whole group. It thinks critically on the process and shows a change in thinking. It is honest and authentic.	Reflection represents the group work effectively. It is honest and authentic.	Reflection demonstrates work done by majority of the group. It is honest and authentic.	Reflection is done.	No reflection.

Help Glen Iris Grow Their Garden! Get Mr. Wilson off the Roof!

Mr. Wilson is up on the roof, this roof is on fire for the Glen Iris School and Community!

Go by today or tomorrow to see a great turnout of parents, teachers and students who are pulling together for their school garden.  Even today at  4:00, there was a donation from the Track Shack of $5,000!!!

Even more important, check out all the tents with bricks to paint, food to eat, and beginning TOMORROW morning, plants and veggies to buy!!!  All proceeds go to making this school garden a reality!

A special thank you to Maple Valley Nursery, located in Shelby County, for a very generous donation from the farmer himself.  Market starts at 8 AM, and Mr. Wilson will be on till 6 P.M.

A picture of what will be available tomorrow plus a whole lot more of good fun.

GO GATORS!!!

HYDRANGEAS/ TOMATOES/ STRAWBERRIES/ SWEET BANANA PEPPER/ THAI BASIL/ WOOD PHLOX (native)

Walkway to Glen Iris Elementary School

Teachers and  Students at the curb in front of the school

Maple Valley Plant Sale, All proceeds to Glen Iris Garden