Over the last couple of months we have enjoyed the company of a handful of other homeschool families. Though we may vary in our personal philosophies and backgrounds it is the desire to teach our children sustainable life skills that brings us together each week. We have taken turns hosting work projects and crafts and built comfortable friendships along the way. I am especially grateful for the shared wisdom and collaboration that is so generously passed around the adult circle.
Here is a report of what has kept us busy:
Potato digging. I was told this was more fun than an Easter egg hunt.
Fire roasting tomatoes. The kids collected wood for the fire and assisted in washing and sorting the tomatoes.
Dried apples. We experimented with hanging them in the sun, by the fire and in a dehydrator.
Compost building. The kids helped with the garden clean up and learned about layering browns and greens. The best part was dancing on it!
Seed paper. The kids spent a couple weeks collecting seeds from their gardens and added it to a paper pulp mix. After the pulp dried they buried them in flower beds and also gave some away as gifts.
Halloween play. This was my favorite activity because it was completely inspired and directed by the children. It was the vision and writing of an eleven year old girl and the enthusiasm of the other children that made this event happen. The script, costumes, and stage were all assembled without the help of any adult. They performed it in the tube of our barn on Halloween night and are already working on a spring sequel.
Meanwhile the older crowd spent most of the evening pressing apple cider. With a nourishing pot luck and so much activity no one missed the candy and we all agreed it was one of our favorite Halloweens ever!
Harvest lanterns. Throughout the fall the kids have been collecting and pressing flowers and leaves. We also gathered feathers and used beeswax and modge podge to stick them to the glass jars.
In celebration of Martinmas we had a warm potluck at the park and listened to the story of St. Martin. When the sun had set we walked through the woods guided by our lanterns and quietly singing songs along the way. Little George all stuffed in his snow suit insisted that we sing "lead me, guide me, walk beside me, help me find the way". In contrast Maryanna was running yards ahead belting out the song "This little light of mine". This was another evening to remember and hopefully repeat.
Everyone brings something unique to this group and what a blessing this has been to all involved. I hope to report of many more great activities throughout this next season.
This is so lovely. Finding community makes such a difference, not only to our homeschooling journey, but to life itself.
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