A Net in Time

Curriculum and book reviews, faith, homeschooling and more!

Homeschooling

Teens and Gardening

By 4 Comments

It’s getting to be that time of year again, gardens will soon be getting into the ground here in SW Ontario.  Why do I bring that up, after all this isn’t a gardening blog! Well, I bring it up because I have a teenager in my house, and that means I get to involve him in my plans!  🙂  Today let’s talk about teens and gardening.

teens and gardening

Specific Skills that Cross Areas

I have to admit, the planning, at least for me, starts the year before. My son is at an age where he’s a good help in the work of gardening.  It’s nice to have someone to talk over what worked and didn’t work in the garden that summer. It’s got me thinking about all the ways (other than talking with mom) gardens and teens work well together. 

  1. If you have raised beds, a teen can help in the building.  In fact last year, my lad built one of our raised beds completely independently.   It’s so nice to be able to trust a lad to do what he says he can.  It comes from helping his mom over the years and developing the needed skills. 
  2. Building climbers, spring starter beds, or other needful things in a garden.  Teens can do it!   Give them the parameters, provide the supplies, let them research what needs doing, and they’ll get it done. 
  3. Shop!   I  know I know, what teen doesn’t know how to shop.  But seriously, they can shop for needed supplies. AND it’s a good skill to practice learning the language of gardening. Giving teens the opportunity to purchase specific items where they have to learn what things are called is a good skill to learn that crosses into a variety of areas. 

Grow, Remove, Harvest!

4. Grow!  Starting seeds in the house, planting rows outside, learning the differences between weeds and plants, and discussing why we might try something new, and sharing lessons learned.  For instance, last year I thought I’d let my volunteer tomatoes grow in amidst the potatoes and discover potatoes dying.  This year I learned why that happened and the lad said “see, I said we shouldn’t do that again”. 

5. Remove the unwanted.  Weeds, rocks, thinning out, overflow.   learning to discern what needs to go and what can stay and the benefits of both.  

6. Harvest!  When to pick, how to store and use. Cooking, canning, and freezing.  Teens can be helpful in gathering and storage.  They can gain skills necessary for food security and independence.    They might even, if you have an overabundance, choose to sell extras in the neighbourhood, and then you’ll have an entrepreneur on your hands.  Watching my son cook with food that he picked from the garden is so satisfying.

7. Putting the Garden to bed.  At the end of the gardening season, it’s time to put the garden to bed for the winter.  At our place, that means turning the gardens and adding rabbit manure so it can set over the winter. Means an earlier start next year.  Teens are great at doing hard labour and as they work they can be learning about soil composition, needs of the soil decomposers,  crop rotation, weed suppression and the like.  It’s also a great time to discuss what did and didn’t work.  I keep my notes in a small book.

Additional Benefits of Teens and Gardening

8. The intangibles.   Being out in the sun working hard is good don’t you find?  I love working my hands through the dirt, feeling it for looseness, and checking for soil decomposers.  There something wonderful about planting seeds and then waiting a few days for growth to occur. Seeing those first shoots, then seeing the growth and then the harvest.  It’s always a wonderful thing to watch. 

Teens and Gardening feels like the perfect fit to me, what do you think?  Can you think of additional ways that teens can benefit from being out in the garden? 

Homeschool Life Magazine this month has several articles you may find interesting this month.   Some of them are listed Below.  If you are interested in these topics the magazine sell for $5.95.

  • Organizing the Schoolroom
  • Homeschooling in the Great Outdoors 
  • Teaching Your Kids Not to Quit
  • Unit Study: Victorian Age
  • Virtual Field Trip: The Louvre
  • Will Your Children Kneel or Bow?
  • Preparing a High School Transcript
  • Raising Children in Christ-like Character: Kindness
  • Project Passport: The Middle Ages
  • High School Prep Genius
march2021

SchoolhouseTeachers.com (affiliate link) has a number of courses to support teens and the various skills they learn gardening.  From classes to help entrepreneurs, to how to homestead, and understand plants.   Right now they are having a sale where you pay $39/quarter for all classes PreK-12.  Just use the code SUPPORT.   

schoolhouseTeachers.com

Jesus, Lover of my Soul

By 2 Comments

Jesus, Lover of my Soul…. oh, I’ve sung this song for years.   It was a favourite in the church that I grew up in.  A song written by Charles Wesley who wanted others to know of this God who is our source of refuge.  

jesus lover of my soul

Lyrics to Jesus Lover of My Soul

Jesus, lover of my soul, let me to Thy bosom fly,
While the nearer waters roll, while the tempest still is high.
Hide me, O my Savior, hide, till the storm of life is past;
Safe into the haven guide; O receive my soul at last.

Other refuge have I none, hangs my helpless soul on Thee;
Leave, ah! leave me not alone, still support and comfort me.
All my trust on Thee is stayed, all my help from Thee I bring;
Cover my defenseless head with the shadow of Thy wing.

Thou, O Christ, art all I want, more than all in Thee I find;
Raise the fallen, cheer the faint, heal the sick, and lead the blind.
Just and holy is Thy Name, I am all unrighteousness;
False and full of sin I am; Thou art full of truth and grace.

Plenteous grace with Thee is found, grace to cover all my sin;
Let the healing streams abound; make and keep me pure within.
Thou of life the fountain art, freely let me take of Thee;
Spring Thou up within my heart; rise to all eternity.

Author and History

So imagine this.  You’ve preached a sermon, and people hate you for it.  They want you dead.  A kind person hides you. As you are waiting for your pursuers to get tired of the hunt, the words to a song come you.

This is how Jesus, Lover of my Soul came to Charles Wesley. During a time of stress and persecution.  His life on the line, and what does he do?  Write a hymn not only recognizing who Jesus is but calling upon him for aid.  

Charles Wesley travelled around England’s countryside with his brother John preaching.  He did so at a time when holding to different doctrinal standards could result in mobs of angry people. YET, he did so irregardless of the cost. Known as the “Bard of Methodism”, he wrote some 6500 hymns.  Hymns flowed out of him, whether doctrinally or experientially based. 

This verse is part of the original song, but none of the hymnbooks I own contain it.

Wilt Thou not regard my call? Wilt Thou not accept my prayer?
Lo! I sink, I faint, I fall—Lo! on Thee I cast my care;
Reach me out Thy gracious hand! While I of Thy strength receive,
Hoping against hope I stand, dying, and behold, I live.

Other hymns by Charles Wesley

This tune is one I am not really familiar with

Thinking Deeper

Doesn’t this verse speak well to the depth found within this song?  

“3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” 2 Corinthians 1:3,4 (ESV)

This truth is what Wesley relied upon. God was his source of strength. When I read of how hymnists use their life experiences to call people to God, it’s an inspiration to me.  It helps me realize that all the ways that God has helped me, are something that I, hopefully, can use to remind others of God’s goodness. 

It makes me ask this…. what inspires you? 

The Song for Everyone

By 2 Comments

raincoast FTC

Every once in a while you get to meet a book that is so sweet.  The Song for Everyone is one such picture book. A sweet story of hope, of loss, and of a community coming together.  Let me tell you all about this sweet book today as I review it for Raincoast Books.  Affiliate links will be used. 

the song for everyone

The Details for The Song for Everyone

Over the course of 40 pages, Lucy Morris tells the story of The Song of Everyone. This is her first picture book though she has been an artist for several years.  3-5-year-olds will be delighted to see how a song lifts the hearts of all who hear it. They will want to know how to help when the song ends. 

This Bloomsbury Children’s book comes in hardcover or kindle formats. Lucy Morris uses her artist abilities to skillfully weave together prose and illustrations into a simple, yet wonderful story. 

I received an advanced readers copy for this review. 

What do you get?

The Song for Everyone

Beautiful illustrations that perfectly fit the telling of a sweet story.  Light, airy, floral themes dance across the pages. It’s like seeing music dance on the wind.  A music that no one knows where it comes from, but it lift’s the spirit and draws individuals (including a cat) into community. 

With a font that is easy on the eyes, and perfect for reading with one or more children.  The text wasn’t lyrical, but suited the story being told.  A quiet poor village rather down on itself in isolation… yet a song changed the picture for everyone. 

The hope all felt, the joy, and the connection to others was a delight to see.  And then the music stopped….. could a solution be found? 

You’ll have to read the book yourself to find out.  🙂 

The song for everyone

Should It go on your bookshelves?

The Song for Everyone is such a sweet story.  I thoroughly enjoyed this read even though I’m well beyond the picture book stage.  Sweet, touching, with growth and community.  

It’s lovely all on its own but would be a touching addition to a music study, or a unit study on how the arts are important to us. Lucy Morris has done a splendid job of illustrating her music-filled tale. 

Chance – Escape from the Holocaust

By 2 Comments

raincoast FTC

My son did a year long study of World War 2 last year, he learned so much.  Throughout that year, and continuing, we’ve been reading WW2 books together.  I was delighted to see Chance: Escape from the Holocaust.  What a quietly done memorial of a horrible time in Uri Shulevitz’s life.  Difficult questions, difficult time he lived through, this book done in picture and word.   A thoughtful look back. 

Affiliate links will be used in this review. 

Chance Escape from the holocaust review

The Basic Details

I received these Memories of a Refugee childhood from Raincoast Books for my review.  Chance – Escape from the Holocaust, written by Uri Shulevitz is a picture and prose book published by Farrar Straus Giroux.  

It’s a heavy book, written from the perspective of a child, covering 8 years of his life as a Polish refugee living in Russia and various European countries. 

Written by Uri Shulevitz who is a Caldecott Medal-winning illustrator and author.  These are his memories.   This book is written for children 8-14 years old.  The language and style suits this age group well. 

Learning more about Chance

Uri conveys his message in a number of ways.  Photos, comic strips, prose, and illustrations are used.  Mostly we get to read, of his hunger, the struggle to survive, the difficulties his parents faced, and the encouragement to draw he received. 

Chance Escape from the holocaust

I’m not going to say it’s an easy read.  Hard things happen with refugees.  Politics get involved which can make it easier or harder for the refugees who are at the mercy of how the wind blows.  They have no permanent home and a hard time finding work.   This makes for hunger, illness, death, being taken advantage of, and more.  It’s not an easy life and Mr. Shulevitz helps his readers understand that reality. 

The artwork tended toward darkness.   This was not an easy time in Uri’s history and everything in the tale conveys the difficulty of these years.  BUT you also find moments of light and encouragement.  Moments when you can see glimpses of the artist he will become, and the constant support he received from his parents.  The love of family was evident throughout.

Should you get it?

Yes.  Chance – Escape from the Holocaust, opened up an area of WW2 that I had not previously studied.  I was unaware of Polish refugees fleeing to Russia and what their reception was. 

Sensitive readers might need to have their parents alongside to help them process the difficulties that Uri and his family faced.  

How to use?   Just to read and have a better knowledge base, as part of your WW2 studies, in understanding the plight of refugees, to get a better understanding of a good artist/illustrator, and to observe the growth of an artist, even in difficult times. 

Easy Food for the Road

By 4 Comments

The homeschool review crew does a weekly challenge and this week they chose the challenge of “the perfect picnic”.  And honestly… my thought was … I got NOTHING.  I don’t do “perfect picnics”. Now give me a quick lunch in the park… and that works for me.  Seems like less pressure and I don’t do pressure stuff too well.   ANYWAYS, it got me thinking about easy food for the road.  If I’m out travelling, what are my go to meals?

easy food for the road

Last week I talked a wee bit about food when we chatted about what to pack for a field trip.  In this household, we don’t do complicated meals when heading.  To be frank, I don’t understand why people do.

I’ve gone on a fair number of field trips over the years with other homeschool families.  Often I was surprised at the amount of food other moms brought along.  I wondered where they found the time to get it all ready on a field trip day.  🙂 I just think to myself… make it easy for yourselves mommas!  

So how can you make a lunch out easy? Particularly ones that are fairly nutritious!

Easy food for the road

All these with fruit and cheese work excellently.   Chips as well if you want.  Add in whatever you need for a drink.

  • Scones: a dry scone with jam, or a sweet scone with fruit cooked in.
  • Sandwiches: whatever suits your fancy
  • Wraps: so many options
  • Pizza or cheese buns
  • Muffins: ham/cheese, applesauce, high fibre, whatever works for you
  • Croissants: chocolate, as a sandwich, cheese-stuffed, etc.

Not as quick meals, or might take a bit of planning ahead.  You may need a freezer bag or a keep-it-hot thermos.

  • a lot of leftovers will travel well
  • Salads: potato, veggie, or pasta 
  • cut up veggies with hummus and/or dip, with cheese and crackers
  • chili with a bun

To make it easy, affiliate links to amazon.  No cost to you, helps to support my blog. 

Did I miss anything that you might use for easy food for the road?   

march2021

Pass Me Not O Gentle Saviour

By 2 Comments

Pass Me Not, O Gentle Saviour is a song that we’ve always sung quietly.  It’s never been a belt it out at the top of your voice type of hymn.  A song that is a call out to the Lord to hear us.   It did surprise me though, I did listen to a couple of youtube videos that were a wee bit peppy.  It struck me as a bit um… odd?  unexpected? different?

pass me not o gentle saviour

Lyrics to Pass Me Not O Gentle Saviour

Pass me not, O gentle Savior,
Hear my humble cry;
While on others Thou art calling,
Do not pass me by.

Refrain

Savior, Savior,
Hear my humble cry;
While on others Thou art calling,
Do not pass me by.

Let me at Thy throne of mercy
Find a sweet relief,
Kneeling there in deep contrition;
Help my unbelief.

Refrain

Trusting only in Thy merit,
Would I seek Thy face;
Heal my wounded, broken spirit,
Save me by Thy grace.

Refrain

Thou the Spring of all my comfort,
More than life to me,
Whom have I on earth beside Thee?
Whom in Heav’n but Thee?

Refrain

Author and History

Fanny Crosby wrote this lovely hymn after she ministered at a prison where she was often interrupted by the prisoners calling out to God to “not to pass me by”.  She was so moved by their pleas that she wrote this song.  As Fanny said, “I wrote the lines with the men’s plead­ing wail still in my ears.”

Fanny Crosby is also known as the “Queen of Gospel Song Writers”.  Over the course of her lifetime, she wrote more than 8000 hymns.  A medical treatment when she was a wee child left her blind. She did not let this stop her from writing poetry, working in missions, or composing music. 

She met her husband, van Alstyne, at the NYIB. Even though she was friends with her husband, it was not a happy marriage. Their only daughter was lost shortly after birth. For all of her success in writing hymns, Fanny often lived in very poor conditions. 

Other Hymns by Fanny Crosby:

Pondering Deeper

Psalm 73:25-26 (ESV) 

25 Whom have I in heaven but you?
    And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.
26 My flesh and my heart may fail,
    but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

Reading the story of how such a great lyricist often lived a life of poverty saddened my heart. When I think today of how so many people make a living off writing music, and Fanny lived in poverty.   

But she maintained her faith in God.  She didn’t let the circumstances of her life lead to live in despair. She really understood the meaning of relying on God. The words from Psalm 73 really show the heart of Fanny.

Do they show your heart as well? 

The Way Past Winter

By 2 Comments

raincoast FTC

Grit, determination, and just a little bit of magic fill the pages of The Way Past Winter.  An old enemy plays his hand.  Can the survivors find a way to put an end to it all? Affiliate links will be used in this review, held on behalf of Raincoast books. 

the way past winter

The Basic Details

Kiran Millwood Hargrave is the author of this Chronicle books published middle school read entitled The Way Past Winter.  Youths grade 5 and up will be delighted with the bravery of Mila as she faces her greatest foe.   A mage Rune helps her along the way.  It is a page-turning adventure the shows the resilience of family, magic and friendship.   Will it be enough to see them through the end?   Will it see them past to the end of winter?    I received an advanced reader’s copy of this 284-page book.

The Way Past Winter

Based on Slavic folktales, this children’s sibling book from Chronicle books is a fast paced novel guaranteed to keep the reader interested in what will happen next.  As an adult reader I finished it in about an hour (mind, I am a fast reader).  

You’ll find five different images delineating each chapter heading, they show the progress in the story.  Scattered art work also help introduce the different sections of this tome based in fantasy and magic.  Since I received an ARC copy I don’t know if the images will be in greyscale in the final copy.

sample page, the way past winter

Font size was larger, making it an easy fast read.  Very comfortable for a youth 10 and up to engage with. 

the way past winter

I really liked the variety in the girls characters, so very different from each other and yet very focused on helping each other. It was in essence… family being family despite their differences.  This makes for a good read.  🙂   

Should you get it?

Yes.  I think so. 

I enjoyed it although the story went in a different direction than I thought it would.  My thought was it would all be about respecting the earth and the things of the earth. It was less about that, and more about family and combatting the things which made life difficult. 

The Way Past Winter shows the resilience of family and friendship. A determination from three unremarkable girls to make things right again. 

It would be interesting to use it as a character study as each of their girls, their brother and the mage are quite different.  Or as a way to jumpstart a conversation about how to care for the earth, or looking into Slavic folklore and how it influences different genres of books.   It’s a good story to just stand on its own as a fantasy novel.