June 30, 2009

This is the twenty-eighth day of my research assistant role of the Youth Garden Project. Today's location was at the Tuskegee University Greenhouse.

Ashton, Morgan and I went on an off-campus expedition to the community of Ridgewood to retrieve some bamboo wood to stake the tomato plants up properly for maximum production of tomatoes. Upon arrival back at the greenhouse and a quick overlook at how some of the other farmers stringed-up their plants, we proceeded work on our own plants. At first it was hard to get the bamboo wood to stand up straight and support the plants because we were digging the holes for them instead of nailing them into the ground. Through trial-in-error, some of the plants had their proper support system.

June 24, 2009

This is the twenty-seventh day of my research assistant role of the Youth Garden Project. Today's location was at the Tuskegee University Greenhouse and Tuskegee University Chambliss Building (old business bldg).

Today we met with the children from SafeHaven to plant bell peppers and perform weed control on their boxes. The duration for their activity was a two hour period from 7:00 AM to 9:00 AM. Later that same day, the junior interns and the other research assistants including myself met with the YMCA children to begin their activities of picture painting images of fruit, vegetables, and flowers. The age categories who had an opportunity to participate were the 5-6 and 9-10 year olds. After some of the children completed their activity that had an opportunity to engage in a game of red light-green light, duck-duck goose, and simon says. The duration of the YMCA children activity was approximatley two and a half hours long and this includes both of the two age categories.

Pictured Above: Summer Interns and children of SafeHAven

June 23, 2009

This is the twenty-sixth day of my research assistant role of the Youth Gardening Project. Today's location was at the Tuskegee University Greenhouse and SafeHaven. Today was a continuation of our efforts to rid the fields of the weeds known as "nut grass." We were able to meet with the children of SafeHaven to discuss the future goals they intend to achieve with the Youth Garden Project. Ashton, Morgan and I proposed three questions to them:

1. Do you all want to continue with the Youth Garden Project?
Reply: Yes

2. What do you all want to sell?
Reply: lemonade, cupcakes, cookies, and brownies

3. What do you all want to do with the profits?
Reply: Go skating, swimming, and to the movies.

June 18, 2009

This is the twenty-fourth day of my research assistant role of the Youth Gardening Project. Today's location was at the Tuskegee University Chambliss Building(old business bldg). I completed the YMCA children painted ladybug rock project by putting the black dots and goggly eyes on them.

June 17, 2009

This is the twenty-third day of my research assistant role of the Youth Gardening Project. Today's location was at the Tuskegee University Chambliss Building(old business bldg). It was the first day as a research assistant that I begun work with the Macon County YMCA chilren ages 5-14. Each age group had an opportunity to paint their own ladybug rock in their own individual style and uniqueness. It was interesting to find out that majority of the older children maintain their rock color to only one color. Majority of the younger children preferred to use more than two colors if not all the colors on their rock. Therefore, is it fair to say that you reach the pinnacle of your creativeness as a young child and when you get older it declines? The other part of the day was split into with planting either pumpkin or raddish seeds into small white seed trays.

June 16, 2009

This is the twenty-second day of my research assistant role of the Youth Gardening Project. Today's location was at the Tuskegee University Greenhouse. Today we worked on removing the weeds out of the fields where we planted varies crops such as okra, tomatoes, watermelons, etc. Mr. Raymond, a farm worker, explained to Ashton, Morgan, and I how to properly operate a tiller. A tiller is used during the cultivation process of loosening and digging the soil around growing plants. The tiller was very useful in removing more weeds from the roots of the soil than the hand power we were using.

Pictured Above: Ashton tilling the field and Mr. Raymond in the left background.

June 13, 2009

This is the twenty-first day of my research assistant role of the Youth Gardening Project. Today's location was at the Macon County Farmers Market. The market second opened day is Saturdays. The first opened day is Wednesdays. I came to the market in hopes of finishing a task given to us by Deloris Coleman. As I stated in my blog on Wednesday [6/10/09], she wanted us to plant the tomato plants the children of the Youth Garden Project sold to her Wednesday, June 10, 2009. Her husband was at home during the time and he was able to give us the necessary tools needed to execute the planting of the tomato plants.

On the other hand, the children were able to sell all remaining tomato plants and made a profit of $200.00 total. The price rate of the tomato plants was: 1 plant for $5.00, 3 plants for $10.00, and 5 plants for $20.00.

June 10, 2009

This is the twenth day of my research assistant role of the Youth Gardening Project. Today's location was at the Macon County Farmers Market. Today was the BIG day that the children of the summer Youth Garden Project had an opportunity to use their business and marketing skills to sell their finished product: tomato plants. It was a tomato plant sell from 8:00 AM until 2:00 PM.

There was one customer who stood out from all the other customers, her name is Mrs. Deloris Coleman. Mrs. Coleman was a prinicple at Tuskegee Institute Middle School and has since retired from the Macon County School System. Mrs. Coleman doesn't stay far from the market and made a deal to buy three tomato plants from the children of the Youth Gardening Project if we would come to her home and plant them for her. Upon arrival at her home, her husband was gone and she couldn't locate her postdigger. Therefore, she asked us to come back another day.

On the other hand, the sales for today was outstanding when compared to standard turn-out of people at the market previous days maybe even months and years earlier.

The market manager, Mr. Pace made a very uplifting comment to our efforts to get more individuals to come to the market. He stated, "I haven't seen this many people at the market in a long time since I've been manager."

June 8, 2009

This is the nineteenth day of my research assistant role of the Youth Gardening Project. Today's location was at the Tuskegee University Chambliss Building(old business bldg). I was introduced to two mentee from the one of many summer programs Tuskegee university offers. The program is called Agritrek. Chantal Nicholson is a senior from North Carolina and have plans to attend Tuskegee University and major in biology, psychology, or both. Edward Lee is a graduated senior from Ohio and he have plans to enlist in the armed services. I explained to them my job duties and showed them two of the projects we will be working with the children on. They had the opportunity to make their first and last name initial out of Plaster of Paris and they made Ladybug Rocks.
Pictured Above: the two mentee and one of the research assistants--Morgan Lewis--guiding over them.

June 5, 2009

This is the eighteenth day of my research assistant role of the Youth Gardening Project. Today's location was at the Tuskegee University Chambliss Building(old business bldg) and other areas on campus. Special Delivery is the words that describe today's activity. The market basket were completed and ready to be distributed to it's proper owner--the buyer. The produce were fresh fruits and vegetables all hand grown by local farmer, Al Hooks. Mr. Hooks explained to Ashton and I the value and importance of farming. He went on to state that many individuals do not like to farm, working on a farm under an employer, or buy their produce from local farmers. That left me wondering, Why? Why people don't buy from their local farmers, work farms, or want to be hired by farmers? I ponder the thought that idea that is could be the new way American--especially black America--have been socialized. We are lead to believe quantity is more important than quality. This philosophy is deeply rooted in the McDonaldization of American society.
Pictured Left: several market baskets
Pictured Right: the children of a family who was donated a market basket.

June 4, 2009

This is the seventeenth day of my research assistant role of the Youth Gardening Project. Today's location was at Tuskegee University's Greenhouse. Ashton and I fertilized the children's boxes and made sure they were watered too. After the completion of the first task, we watered the plants inside the greenhouse as well. Greenhouses are very important because they help cultivated plants. They prevent pests, diseases, and other outside elements that might pose a danger to them. Although the temperature in Tuskegee University's greenhouse--probably many other greenhouses--are extremely hot the plants seem to love it. Greenhouses can allow certain crops to be grown year round such as lettuce and other vegetables. I often wonder were the idea of a greenhouse came about. After performing a quick search on Wikipedia, they mention a extensive history about the greenhouse but I will only share a few sentences on my blog: The idea of growing plants in environmentally controlled areas has existed since Roman times. The Roman emperor Tiberius ate a cucumber-like vegetable daily. The Roman gardeners used artificial methods (similar to the greenhouse system) of growing to have it available for his table every day of the year. Some old methods pass away but I glad the method of using the greenhouse did not!

June 3, 2009

This is the sixteenth day of my research assistant role of the Youth Gardening Project. Today's location was at the Tuskegee University Chambliss Building(old business bldg) and the Tuskegee University's Greenhouse. The Youth Garden Project children arrived at the greenhouse bright and early this morning to start their day off with a few gardening skills. The other research assistants and I taught the children the importance of making sure they weed-out their garden properly to slow the growing process of the weeds down. Each child was responsible for "pulling weeds" out of their boxes. After the first garden task was completed, we walked down the road to the kids' other garden. This garden is larger then their 4 feet by 4 feet garden boxes. The weeds in the larger garden is maintained by the use of plastic, where the children make small holes to insert their seeds to grow. The kids planted sunflower and squash seeds.
After the children left, I finished what I started yesterday at the Chambliss building: making plaster molds. This time, I made the letters only; therefore, the children can paint their initials and have a take-home exhibit to showcase their painting skills.

June 2, 2009

This is the fifteenth day of my research assistant role of the Youth Gardening Project. Today's location was at the Tuskegee University Chambliss Building(old business bldg). The task today was to find other activities for the youth garden project children to do. I was given the job of making plaster molds. OMG! It sounds easy but making plaster molds for the very first time was a little irritating to me. I wasted over half the plaster power because I miscalculated how fast plaster actually solidify. I made the plaster into a pancake batter mixture as directed by the instructions; however, when I went back into Chambliss to get another wooden mixer and came back the mixture was completely solid. I was extremely miffed! Through trial-and-error, the finished product turn put completely blemish-free.

June 1, 2009

This is the fourteenth day of my research assistant role of the Youth Gardening Project. Today's location was at the Tuskegee University Chambliss Building(old business bldg). I finished getting my contract completed with all the necessary corrections. I would love to reflect thus far on the many things all the research assistants--including myself--have gotten completed. Although the work is sometimes muscle aching or even skin tanning, there's nothing as reassuring as to see the look in a young child's eyes that favors the fruit: watermelon, but have never planted a watermelon seed, watched it grow, or even harvested it. The Youth Garden Project gives children such as the one recalled in the previous sentence opportunities to do things they wouldn't have the resource or opportunity to do. I'm proud to be that individual who is apart of the process of helping the youth to use their inquisitive nature and the resources around them to developed their motor skills, logic of thinking, and creative moments to change their circumstances. We can learn a lot from the children who are part of Youth Gardening Project!