Soil To Snack

As graduate students, we are assigned the role of "liaison" at two or three schools who will be visiting IslandWood. During our non-teaching weeks (every other week) we visit our liaison schools to do observations, lessons, activities, orientations, or simply to tag along on a field trip as an additional chaperone. When our liaison school comes to IslandWood, we substitute our teaching week for a week of support and professional development closely interacting with the students, chaperones, and teachers. This past week North Beach Elementary School, of which I am a liaison, visited IslandWood and I had the privilege of floating from group to group and really learning a lot from colleagues. One of my highlights came from observing an lesson called Soil To Snack.

Soil To Snack is a fairly self-explanatory lesson. The students are introduced to IslandWood's garden and proceed to collecting various vegetables that will later be used to create a snack. Once the group has gathered enough, they head to the dining hall where our incredibly talented chef, Chris Agnew, guides them through the process of creating a delicious dish. This weeks dish was Potato Gnocchi with a Stinging Nettle sauce.

  

Chris showing everyone how to prepare the Nettles.

  

Students rolling, rolling, rolling the Gnocchi dough.

  

Once it's rolled, students carefully cut their strand into bite-sized pieces.

  

The finished product. Potato Gnocchi with a Stinging Nettle sauce, topped with goat cheese and sprouts. Yum!

"Wow something that was so commonly known to hurt me, I never knew it could taste so good!"
- North Beach Elementary Student

For more information about IslandWood's garden or if you'd like some new exciting recipes,  please visit our Garden Blog!

Riley

Students Sing It Out!

Last week, I was fortunate enough to be with Team Estuary during their Artist In Residence experience with Joe Reilly and Allison Radell. Of everything I've done at IslandWood with students, it took top prize as my favorite shared experience thus far. Without further ado, I give you "We Are Estuary."

 

The seed. A collection of ideas surrounding individual connections to IslandWood.

 

The song. After much deliberation, Team Estuary settled upon their lyrics.

We Are Estuary
Team Estuary With Joe Reilly and Allison Radell
February 27th, 2013

Walking among the ancient trees, the elder cedar trees
On the suspension bridge, the food is very tasty
The canopy tower, the tree house, the floating classroom
The quiet, the stillness of walking around without cars
From the canopy tower you can see, very far
The ravine, can be seen, and leads to the Hah-Bah

The wind through the trees The chirping of the birds
When you’re walking through the tall grass
Footsteps slow and fast
We are here, we are estuary
We are here, we are estuary

Working together as a team, to achieve our goal
I ran into the wall on a night hike, in a blindfold
It was just a bump, it was challenging but fun
Our favorite part is coming back after our journey’s done

The wind through the trees
The chirping of the birds
When you’re walking through the tall grass
Footsteps slow and fast
We are here, we are estuary
We are here, we are estuary

Walking among the ancient trees, the elder cedar trees
On the suspension bridge, the food is very tasty


Should you ever have the opportunity to participate in a work shop with Joe and Allison, I cannot recommend it enough.

Riley