Kiwi's Odyssey: Baby Seed Hatcher! AKA Growing Shelves!

About Pierre

Aaahhhh, hubby! We met at university and just 'clicked' and the rest is, well, history ... in fact, not only did I get my BSc at university, but I also got my Mrs. after graduation ;) ... and Pierre is still as handsome as the day I met him !

Pierre has proven to be a wonderful man and wonderful provider to his family. Pierre is loyal, loving, kind, funny, warm hearted, and a 'trickster'!

Try this on: ‘Babe’, I’m seriously thinking that I can’t go back to work – I just can’t leave Cody … he took so long in the making and with 5 loses every day is a gift! What’s the point in having our son and not been able to watch him grow up and being there for him? Followed shortly thereafter by: Followed by – Oh and babe, I want to homeschool our son … I assure you I’m ‘normal’, but this just seems ‘right’ for our family.

I just want to confirm here just how amazing my husband is. And how much he has sacrificed to make this possible. And how he has given me the greatest gift - the gift of time to spend with my son.

Thank you babe!

About Cody

I just hate to put Cody is a ‘box’ when he’s growing, changing, accepting responsibility for his actions – or not - depending on his mood, and developing into a wonderful human being. Cody’s first passion is his love of nature, animals, insects, and reptiles … a true naturalist!

Cody is very sensitive and affectionate. For a seven year old Cody has a wicked cool sense of humor and has that twinkle in his eye when he cracks a funny. His belly laugh is contagious!

As for inquisitive – Cody truly must know. And in his mind, he already does know how to lay flooring, work the skill saw, install the sprinkler system, drive the minivan … he isn’t convinced he’s not old enough for a drivers license:) He has a wonderfully analytical mind! Keeps his mum and dad on their toes!!!!

Cody enjoys playing outdoor games/sports and is well coordinated. But Cody would give it up for the finding of a toad, snake, salamander, dragonfly, butterfly etc. I’m thoroughly enjoying spending time with him, learning hands-on with him, seeing life through his eyes, encouraged by this enthusiasm and passion for living. Right now we’re a ‘team’ and it works well for our family.

How we got started Homeschooling

Cody is my miracle Canuk! And I knew that homeschooling was right for our family when Cody was 3 months old. I sure didn’t have any of the details mapped out in my mind back then, but I decided the best way to figure it out was to dive right in head first. But first, I had to figure the ‘mum’ thing out! (I’m still trying to get that one right!)

I initially read any homeschooling books I could get my hands on and started to make contacts with local groups. My goal was to get involved with other homeschooling families and ask them a ton of questions while my son started slowly building friendships with other homeschooling children.

I knew I looked like an alien from the expressions that found their way to the many homeschooling parent due to the age at which I started Cody’s involvement, yet, even to my amazement – and thankfulness, there was a ‘niche’ for us. At 12 months old Cody and I were involved in three different homeschooling groups and activities, and regularly meeting some amazingly wonderful families with a wide range of homeschooling views and directions.

Cody really started connecting with the younger siblings of homeschooled children and just as we were getting settled and into a routine with our fellow homeschoolers, my hubby up and gets a job in the States.

So we had to start all over again. I must say I wasn’t looking forward to being the ‘three eyed monster’ once again, but still believed that finding a good support group was definitely beneficial in our homeschooling experience! So, when it came to house hunting it was important to me to research homeschooling groups that would be accepting of a 30 month old.

I could not believe my luck when I found a homeschooling group that actually catered for younger children – we hit the homeschooling jackpot!!. Our activities with the group include: recess, lesson days, library days, park days, field trips, monthly parent nights (which actually does discuss the forward growth of the group) which blends into what we are doing now.

Where we’re planning on going

One of the cool things about homeschooling is being able to look at what others are doing, asking tons of questions, sometimes being allowed into the ‘classroom’ at home, and often ‘touching and feeling’ projects that others already tried with their feedback.

It’s awesome when the ‘light bulb’ comes on and you think to yourself – that’s wicked cool and man I just have to do that. Knowing my son’s learning strengths and challenges, I can see what could work for us and maybe how we can change the resource/activity to be tailored to his needs.

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Baby Seed Hatcher! AKA Growing Shelves!

I'm so excited! I know it's crazy, but I have Spring in my heart! I think this is in part because my seeds are ordered and I'm reading a wonderful gardening book that a friend gave me for my Birthday!!!

Lets first start with the seeds. Well thanks to the Vege Guru, we decided to split costs, seeds and got together to have a vege garden discussion. I think I learned a TON from that chin wag!!!! Thank you Vege Guru! You are a true inspiration!!! So now I am in the process of building an indoor Seed grower in order to be a good and wise steward of those baby seeds - planning on getting a head start again this year!!!!

So I read up on 'how to' do it yourself as the pre-made growing shelves are jolly expensive!!!! $70 for one small light strip!!!! And that's NOT a grow light!!! So for a nonimal cost, I have planned my own and gone ahead and am presently building it.

Ace Hardware have a Gorilla Rack on sale $29 in their flyer this week, so that is my rack to hold the seedlings. The dimentions are: 72"H x 34"W x 14"D. There are 5 shelves, which translates into 4 seed growing areas. Each shelf is topped with wood, so I have yet to attach my grow lights - from Wal-Mart. 24" strips at $10 per strip = $40 of lights. A bargin if I say so myself! I'm pretty chuffed with my economical buy! You can use florescent lighting if you wanted to make it cheaper. $2 cheaper per light at Wal-Mart.

I have yet to 'cover' the wood with some sort of laminated protection from water should it spill, and I still have a concern ... is the lighting sufficient to grow the seeds? Or would 2 strips be better per shelf?

That being said, it's coming along nicely! I guess time will tell! My plan is to start planting the seeds early February. When I get some photos up and running, I'll post them so you have a look too.

Spring isn't sprung,
The garden isn't riz,
All the vege gardeners,
Spring fever iz!

Happy baby seed hatching! Love, the Vegetable Garden Virgin!

2 comments:

The MomJanuary 20, 2010 at 5:08 PM
It sounds great. I'd do 2 strips per shelf. You want everything directly under the lights if at all possible. I can't wait to see it! Spring is coming soon!
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kiwi gomesJanuary 28, 2010 at 6:21 AM
Decided to take your advice and go with 2 strips per shelf! Also keeping it in that location by the furnace to give it the warmth it needs! Thanks my friend ;) You're da bomb!
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