by Melanie Dearing | May 27, 2016 | Auquaponic, Garden, Recreation
Worms, ladybugs, butterflies and honeybees – we had a magical time with them all at our Family Fun Day last Saturday. We have so many photos and video that it will take a while to get through editing all of them, but I wanted to give you a flavor of the day and give details for how others can plan events here. This post will be a little longer than most, but it was a very action packed day.
We started our adventure with check-in, which included a bag to carry take home crafts and prizes and bug costumes (to help protect clothes from paint and dirt), with antennae to help create bug spirit. We started with a red plastic smock and added our black ladybug dots. All the children were adorable! 
Learning Stations:
Aquaponics
Our first learning station took us into the main garden to learn about aquaponics in the greenhouse. The age range of this particular group was pretty young, so instruction was limited, but they enjoyed seeing the Tilapia up close. They received a paper fish for their bag to take home. 
You can buy tilapia to raise at alliedaqua
Worms
We moved out to the composting barrels to learn about dirt and different kinds of worms and how important worms are to help make good soil. 
Each child picked up earthworms from our worm container and placed them in our new raised bed to help the soil where beets and kale were growing. We also looked at small composting worms called red wigglers and talked about the size differences. The kids looked inside the composting barrel and we gave it a couple of turns to show how we mix the kitchen scraps we put in to make new dirt. Each child got to choose a rubber worm to take home with them. Worms are a wonderful garden friend. 
You can buy composting worms here: red wigglers
Ladybugs
The ladybug station was our next stop. There were plastic and paper ladybugs hidden all over the front yard, flower beds and garden. Kids had to hunt for them and turn them in to exchange for ladybug stickers. We made ladybug stamp paintings and set them aside to dry. 
The final activity at this station was our live ladybug release. Of course we talked about how helpful ladybugs are in our gardens by eating harmful pests that can damage plants. We passed out a cupful of live ladybugs to each child and let them walk around anywhere in the gardens and let them go. 
My favorite was watching the littlest babies delight in allowing ladybugs to crawl up their arms. These were precious experiences. 
You can purchase ladybugs here: arbico-organics
Butterflies
We needed to transition into a new magical kingdom. Again, due to the younger age range, we didn’t go into great detail about metamorphosis. In fact, ladybugs and butterflies go through very similar life cycle stages. Here is a cute website to learn more. ladybug life cycle
Our transition included changing our red plastic smocks to orange. We walked through long orange and black streamers into the back yard that was prepared for our butterfly theme. (The painted lady butterflies we were going to learn about are orange and black, similar to a small monarch butterfly). 
After a brief instruction time of the life cycle of butterflies, the kids again went on a butterfly hunt for both plastic and solar hovering butterflies. They were able to keep the plastic ones to take home.
We talked about the proboscis of the butterfly and each child was given a party blower to play with and take home to show how it can coil and uncoil, just like a proboscis. While the honeybee also has a proboscis, it works differently, but again that is information for an older group. We talked about how butterflies drink nectar from flowers and each child took home large tissue paper flower crafts (there were many “planted” around the yard already made, or they could take home a kit to make their own).
The magical moment had arrived to bring out the live butterflies and release them. I had nervously waited for them to emerge from their chrysalis in time for our Family Fun Day. I was also concerned about all the rain we had and the cooler temperatures. Everything seemed to come together perfectly and all but nine had emerged on time. We gently pulled out each butterfly on a small sponge soaked with sugar water. The butterflies sat nicely to take a drink as the kids held them, and then they gracefully took flight to start their new life. It was so cute to watch the little ones say goodbye just as they flew away. I’m not sure which was most magical, the butterflies or the looks on the faces of the kids. It was such a blessing to watch. 
I had never raised butterflies before, so this was very new to me. I worked with a wonderful company called Carolina Biological Supply. I had purchased a variety of things from them as a classroom teacher and as a home-school mom. They were incredible to work with and patiently answered all my many questions (they even put me in contact with their specialists to help with new areas I wanted to explore). They were also very reassuring that the butterflies would in fact emerge in time. (I felt like a nervous mom waiting for delivery, and they were very comforting and kind). I would highly recommend them for any science needs.
You can purchase butterfly kits here: Carolina Biological Supply
Honeybees
We were ready for our last magical kingdom to learn about another wonderful garden friend – the honeybee. This also took a new costume change to a yellow plastic smock with black stripes. (I also was making costumes changes of my own at each station. That is a great part of the fun of teaching!) We touched on how the bright colors like red, orange or yellow can be warning colors for predators of insects that they can be toxic or dangerous.
We walked down a path through the woods to an area set up with two tables to learn about bees. Our neighbors, Bill and Tarey Shipley are the beekeepers here. They currently have a total of ten hives. This station started with me giving a short explanation of the life cycle of honeybees with hands on models of bees and honeycomb to pass around. I also briefly touched on the importance of pollination for our food supply and another great pollinator – the Mason bee. Crown Bees are a great resource for information and sent me a wonderful file to print. I bought this cute Mason Bee house here as well. Mason Bee House
Bill and Tarey had an observation frame of bees in glass to look at, as well as all the beekeeping gear and empty hive bodies for the kids to paint. 
Tarey talked about how honeybees do a “bee dance” to communicate where they have found a large nectar location. I don’t know which dance was more fun to watch – Tarey or the kids.
Some of the younger kiddos were getting tired, so we put an end to the formal instruction. Each child had to run and find me a dandelion and bring it back to me in exchange for a honey stick. Most of them made several runs for more than one stick! 
Even the grown-ups were making the exchange. 
One of the older kids wanted to put on a bee keeper suit and go to the big hives and hold some bees. We had even had adults holding the bees with no special suit on. 
To end the day we found a black snake on the path and decided we also needed to experience a “snake release”. The oldest male student of the group held and carried the snake (his first experience at this) all the way back up to my garden to release it there. I have a terrible issue with voles (field mice) making damaging tunnels all through my garden flower beds. I wanted the snake there to help with pest control; another garden friend (unplanned, but very exciting!) Families were welcome to stay for a picnic lunch. We also had a box turtle we had kept in a large container that the kids could hold. We marked it with fingernail polish so we could identify it and released it for fun.
Why Do We Do This?
Part of the goal and purpose of WellStone Gardens is to educate and inspire others. This property offers wonderful educational options for families, homeschool groups and school field trips. This Family Fun Day was our opportunity to showcase what can be done here. We used it for fun, photos and videos for our Kids Korner section of the website.
With busy families and schedules, it is difficult for us to plan these types of events on a regular basis. If there are any groups interested in hands on science themes or living history experiences, we wanted to give information for how to book educational or recreational events here. We can work on the curriculum together.
For educational opportunities, the fees are $5.00 per child, plus supplies. We need to have a minimum of 10 children. (Supply costs vary depending on the subject matter and age of students). Each group is responsible to make sure there are at least 10 students present. Some examples could be learning about ants, praying mantis, gardening, composting, aquaponics, living history, more in depth honeybee or Mason bee information, local birds, etc.…. We have even hosted a bus load of kids and focused on an art theme. It was a great time!
For recreational activities we have had birthday parties, church picnics (see link here: church picnics), ladies luncheons, and obstacle course events. Fees are $15 per person plus supplies. We again need a minimum of 10 to book the schedule. Each group is responsible for their own food unless arrangements are made. (No alcohol is allowed for insurance purposes).
Let us help you create your own special fun filled event!
Call 816-738-1308 for available dates and added information.
by Melanie Dearing | May 25, 2016 | Broth/Soups/Sauces, Dinner, Recipes
I have always loved Chicken Madeira whenever I go to Cheesecake Factory. My daughter took me there for mother’s day and I decided I had to find a way to make this at home and delete the dairy. Through guess work and taste testing, I pulled this together for dinner one night and it was a big hit. I made a large portion because I knew it would be eaten quickly, and I was hoping for some leftovers. You can feel free to cut the recipe down if you want to. Many recipe books talk about the importance of always making extra specifically so you can serve it again as lunch the next day or even freeze some for another time. It really does take the same amount of time and clean up to make larger batches. I have not tried to see if this freezes well because it disappeared with dinner and lunch. 
Madeira sauce is a little more time consuming due to the reduction. (There are many more time consuming versions that require demi- glace either homemade or commercial products. I went for a simple, yet tasty substitute.) I will try making a very large batch of sauce without the mushrooms to see if I can freeze it in order to speed the cooking process. We are not wine drinkers (or any alcohol for that matter), so I had to plan ahead to make sure I could find and purchase Madeira wine. I bought the least expensive I could find because I knew it would be used only for cooking. This is a “keeper” recipe for my family.
Mel's Chicken Madeira
Author: Melanie Dearing
Course: Main Dish
- Ingredients:
- 2 tbsp. avocado oil
- 8 boneless skinless chicken breast (I have also used chicken thighs as well)
- Madeira Sauce
- 2 cups sliced mushrooms
- 1 large red onion chopped
- 2 tbsp. avocado oil
- 3 cups Madeira wine s
- 2 cups beef stock (I have also used chicken bone broth or stock)
- 1 cup thick coconut cream (I use Trader Joe’s)
- ¼ cup coconut aminos
- 1 tbsp. balsamic vinegar
- 1 tbsp. ghee
- 2 tsp. thyme
- ¼ cup tapioca flour (optional as thickener if desired)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Instructions:
- Place each chicken breast in large Ziploc bag and pound with a meat hammer until a uniform thickness across the breast, about ¼ inch thick.
- Heat up 2 tablespoon avocado oil large skillet over medium heat
- Sauté the chicken fillets for 4 to 6 minutes per side, or until chicken has browned just a bit.
- Remove chicken fillets from the pan and place them together in covered dish to keep fillets warm while you make the sauce.
- (I cut breasts into smaller chunks because I prefer them that way)
- With heat still on medium, add two tablespoons of oil to the skillet.
- Add the sliced mushrooms and onions and sauté for about 2 minutes.
- Add Madeira wine, beef broth, butter and thyme.
- Bring sauce to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for about 20 minutes or until sauce reduces to about one quarter of its original volume.
- When the sauce is done it will have thickened and turned a dark brown color.
- *Now is the time to add the tapioca flour if you prefer a thicker sauce.
- I add the chicken chunks to the sauce and heat through.
- - I serve this with asparagus sautéed in avocado oil and minced garlic and fried sweet potatoes and onions.
3.5.3208
by Melanie Dearing | May 20, 2016 | Garden, Recreation
When working outside in any variety of gardens, even front porch container gardens, there are more species of life participating than just plants. I also find it fascinating to look for personal life analogies outside in my gardens and my yard.
This week we are getting ready for our Family Fun Day activities, including releasing 9,000 lady bugs, 33 painted lady butterflies, and honey bee activities. In the midst of all of this planning, we built a little over 100 square foot raised bed in the middle of our garden, which means lots of transplanting and more seeds to start. I truly do feel “as busy as a bee”!
Raised Bed Addition
I am so excited about and delighted with our new u-shaped raised bed. It is 2 feet deep and 4 foot wide with the side being 12 feet long. I wanted to give pictures of the process so that I can continue to show how wonderfully it can be planted and maintained.
We have our potatoes and beets in containers and they are very crowded. The plan is to try and spread them out by transplanting them into this new bed. The rain this week has slowed that process down. (I’m not even sure they will make it as a transplant when they are so large already). I will keep you posted on the results. (I am such a novice at all of this!)
*Total cute side note – I found a nest of baby cardinals in the arch of my roses, right at eye level. So adorable!
Under the Surface
As we were hauling in dirt to fill this bed, we noticed lots of wonderful worms which are great for the soil. This reminded me of the importance of worms and of composting, so I added a worm station activity to our Family Fun Day. Worms truly are a garden friend that are often overlooked and underappreciated. I even posted a gummy worm recipe this week.
A personal life analogy with worms made me think about how we often have things buried beneath the surface of our lives that may need to be recognized, worked on and even appreciated. If we focus on those things that need to be worked on inside (below ground level), then it can produce great fertilizer and intentionally make great soil, that in turn will create a healthier crop that is seen on the outside (above ground level). They work at eating and breaking down rotten material and turning it into something necessary for health and life. Sometimes what we don’t see working on internally is vital to what we do see externally. Worms are a great reminder of this.
Ladybugs
Over the years, I have done several ladybug releases in a variety of locations. They are easy to order online and easy to care for until releasing them. Ladybugs are a wonderful, natural way to get rid of harmful garden pests. Kids love this gentle bug and I love watching their excitement as they turn them loose. 
Entomologically speaking, the term bugs applies to insects of the order Hemiptera. Ladybugs belong to the order Coleoptera, or beetles. Almost all ladybugs feed on soft-bodied insects, and serve as beneficial predators of plant pests. Gardeners welcome ladybugs with open arms, knowing they will munch on the most prolific plant pests. Ladybugs love to eat scale insects, white flies, mites, and aphids. As larvae, ladybugs eat pests by the hundreds. A hungry ladybug adult can devour 50 aphids per day.
What personal life analogy can we learn from these incredible creatures? Well, we do know that they protect our plants by destroying harmful predators. We all have “pest like” issues in our lives that we may need to intentionally go on the hunt for to rid them from harming ourselves or other. These may include harmful addictive issues of drugs or alcohol, anger issues, poor decisions concerning our eating habits, harmful attitudes or negative thinking or even pornography. We need to destroy these “pests” in our lives just like ladybugs destroy harmful aphids. They also have several protective mechanisms built in to help out, but you just need to come here Saturday to learn more.
Butterflies
This is my first attempt at a butterfly release. I started with very tiny caterpillars and have watched and waited.
So far I have 33 painted lady butterfly chrysalis and am praying they will all emerge before Saturday. I feel like a mom waiting for delivery. I have learned that different species feed on very specific plants, so I had to track down a type of mallow plant called a Tall Mallow or French Hollyhock for these butterflies. (Not easy to find around here). I can plant these to attract painted lady’s, as well as put them in their habitat container to see if they will lay eggs on the leaves and continue the life cycle.
The most incredible life application with butterflies is the wonder of metamorphosis. In life we all have the beautiful ability to start out as one thing, or going in one direction, and totally change into something extraordinary – to spread our wings and fly. As a Christian, the butterfly is the perfect analogy of being totally transformed into a new creation through the power of Jesus Christ.
Honeybees
I started with one bee hive over 9 years ago when we moved to the country. I never really managed the hive well, so we didn’t get much honey. Two years ago, our neighbors Bill and Tarey Shipley, took over our hive as well as starting their own. They are up to 10 hives now and they have a small observation frame we will use for our Saturday event.
There are so many life analogies to use with honeybees. We need to be good “pollinators” of loves, joy, peace, kindness, and gentleness as we interact from person to person. (I also am learning more about Mason bees as incredible pollinators). We need to be intentionally focused and hardworking, being about the tasks we were uniquely created to accomplish. We need to understand the importance of working together with others as a team toward positive results. We need to be vigilant and watchful at protecting our “hive” from predators and disease. (Honeybees often give their own lives in the protection of others. I want to give a very special thank you to all the military men and women who protect our nation and give their lives for us). But there are everyday tasks all moms, dads, grandparents, single adults, and children of all ages do to share and care for others to make a positive difference. We need to share our excess “honey” with others to add “nutritious, beneficial, healing sweetness” in whatever ways we are gifted in.
I love all of these fabulous garden friends, and I want to thank all the wonderful family and friends in my life who have provided nurture, protection, and sometimes even beneficial “fertilizer” to help me grow and be fruitful. You have played a very important part in the “garden” of my life. I love you all very much!!
by Melanie Dearing | May 18, 2016 | Desserts, Recipes
As a grandma, I am always on the lookout for fun things to do with grandkids. One day I saw this gummy maker kit at CVS and had to have it. At the time, one of the grandkids was being potty trained and his parents were using gummy worms as a reward. I wanted to make a healthier version with fresh fruit juice. They were fun to make together before nap time and they went over well as an afternoon snack (and a reward for using the potty).
During kids garden workshops teaching about composting worms, I have made an organic version of “dirt cake” and purchased real fruit gummy worms. Now I can make my own in any flavor I want!
This Saturday, May 21st, as we are having our “Garden Friends” family fun day, I decided to add worms to the lady bug, butterfly and honeybee activities. With my love of trying to engage all of the senses when instructing, it is the perfect opportunity to “taste” worms. The recipe is easy and fast. Instructions in the kit even suggest adding vitamins, minerals or probiotics to the gummies for an added plus with kids. (Homemade gummy vitamins!)
Fruit Gummy Worms
Author: Melanie Dearing
Course: Sweet Treats
- 4 packets unflavored gelatin (1 full box ~ about 1 ¼ oz. if using Great Lakes brand)
- *Note: I like using Great Lakes red can because I can add it cold and not have to boil mixture to loose nutritional value.
- ½ cup juice (I blended fresh strawberries, blue berries and ½ banana with unsweetened berry mix juice in my nutribullet for this mix)
- 2 Tbsp. honey (optional – I didn’t use any)
- Whisk together the juice, gelatin and honey (if using) and place in microwave for 2 minutes or until boiling. (No boiling necessary if using Great Lakes red can gelatin).
- Carefully pour mixture into molds and let chill until set.
- Remove from molds and store in covered container or bags in refrigerator.
3.5.3208
by Melanie Dearing | May 13, 2016 | Inspiration
Lost and Found
Last year my husband wrote a blog post that somehow, someway got lost in the shuffle of computer cyberspace and forgotten about. We found a hard copy that had been printed, tucked in a drawer recently, so I wanted to re-type it and send it out this week. I clearly understand that not only did this post miss the deadline for last year at daylight savings time, but it is also late for this year. I beg your forgiveness and ask for mercy in the timing portion, so grant patience – but the application of the content is still powerful. Travel back in time in your mind’s eye to springtime daylight savings on Sunday, March 13th, 2016.
Non-Gardener Perspective
This is from my husband Steve:
Gardening is a passion for so many people. I can only imagine what’s beginning to stir their hearts as the weather begins to warm up. I’m making these notes in early Spring. All next week the temperature is supposed to be in the 50’s and 60’s and this weekend it truly becomes official; the time changes.
When my wife heard that the other day, the first thing she said was, “I’ve got to get in my gardens. I swear she said it three times over and over as she started to get that look in her eye. “Spring forward” even sounds more dynamic and exciting than “Fall back”, and as busy as she is she will make time for flowers and herbs and all her vegetables. Speaking of looks in her eye, believe me, it’s not a good time or place to be a weed or vole, or any other creature that threatens her plants. That little woman can flat out wage war in her gardens.
I guess we are all that way towards the things we’re passionate about and I’m there to support her in any way that I can, because we are both deeply concerned about our own diets and the crippling impact our eating habits are having on our families, American culture and healthcare system. I can get passionately behind all of that, but I’m definitely on the outside looking in when it comes to the simple pure joy of getting your hands in rich dirt and working to plant. I love that about all you gardeners, and the beautiful things you grow. You don’t have to love plants to deeply appreciate those who grow them. Any man who has bought flowers to express his affection or maybe to help him out of the doghouse knows what I’m talking about. From the corner flower shop to large public botanical gardens, to apartment patios; from yards beautifully landscaped to the window sills in your home—you’re all responding to a giftedness as old as man; a primal, joyful impulse to plant; to cultivate and grow. 
In her beautifully done book, In Search of Paradise, author Penelope Hobhouse researched the history of gardening and she wrote, “The story of garden design threads together four thousand years of cultural history and personal vision. Throughout history gardens have been refuges and sanctuaries; records tell of their abundance, comfort and beauty. From the oldest known gardens, to the most recent designs, garden making has offered evidence of humankind’s ongoing search for paradise.”
Now, you probably haven’t analyzed that growing a tomato, a carrot or a petunia would go quite that deep, and while I bet she’s probably on to something, you don’t have to go there to appreciate where I’m heading with all this garden talk. You see, we are all gardeners at heart, because each one of us cultivates an intensely personal internal garden; the garden of our minds.
When we consider the idea of our minds, we all understand that to be the home of all our thoughts. Because we can’t touch it, see it or physically walk through the garden of our minds, we can tend to marginalize it, but it is just as real as any garden in the world and this garden has a most profound impact on every area of our lives. I can think of no better analogy for the human mind than the vegetable gardens we plant every year. We all know that we are what we eat; well it is just as true that we are what we think.
Seed Potential
I’ve said this before, but it is so foundational that it bears repeating; your mind is who you are; it is incredibly fertile ground and it will grow anything and everything planted there. I can’t over emphasize the truth and power of that fact.
Google the question “how many thoughts does the average person think every day?” The lowest number I found was 12,000 and the highest was 70,000. Just average that out and it comes to a whopping 40,000 thoughts each day. Think of each though as a seed with the potential to be planted in the most fertile soil on earth – the garden of your mind.
Every day, in a stream of consciousness, 40,000 thoughts flow through our mind. We entertain them; reject them or allow them to be planted and they become rooted in our spiritual DNA; encoded deeply into who we are. The implications of that are enormous. Our thoughts say a lot about who we are and who we will become due to one of the most powerful laws in the universe – the law of sowing and reaping. As surely as the sun follows the moon, you and I will reap the full harvest of every thought planted in the fertile garden of our minds.
In flower gardens, if you plant a rose you’re going to grow blooming roses. If you plant tulips, every Spring you’re going to enjoy tulips. If you plant tomato seeds, you won’t harvest carrots. You will raise and harvest exactly what you plant. So think deeply for a moment about the types of thoughts we plant in the garden of our minds; thoughts and seeds of joy, peace and tenderness; seeds of courage, honor and wisdom. We plant seeds of empathy, forgiveness and love, but we also think and plant seeds of bitterness, revenge or indifference; seeds of resentment, self-pity or hopeless despair. These seeds are guaranteed to grow and mature to affect our work, play and every relationship in our lives.
Sowing and Reaping
In your mind’s eye cast your vision across the span of human activity covering the globe today and you will be witnessing the harvest of all the thoughts of mankind. We reap what we think and our harvest is revealed in every decision we make, every word we speak, even every movement of our body language. Our thoughts are at the root of every action and reaction, in every moment of every day of our lives.
The more deeply I engage in this whole thought process, the more stunned I am at the implications, and I am going to explore. If you too continue to explore your thoughts, I guarantee it is a process that an profoundly change and deeply enrich all of our lives; and what an excellent time to do it. If you are a gardener, I know you; I’m married to one. It’s Spring and you’re getting excited. Whether you’re urban, suburban or rural, you love flowers, vegetables, berries and fruit trees. You love picket fences, stone walls, bird houses and fountains of water. You are keenly aware of the feel of the warm sun, the sound of birds singing and the bees buzzing. Like a moth to a flame, you’re drawn to the sights and the scent of life in the garden. As you enjoy working in your garden this Spring and Summer, let’s also turn or hearts and our thoughts to another fertile place of incredible hope and promise – the garden of our minds.
Let’s begin to stop taking that garden for granted and think deeply about who a loving God has created us to be and imagine all that could be planted in the fertile garden of our minds and harvested in our lives during the growing season to come. It will take hard work, including the diligence of weeding, fertilizing, watering and pruning on our way to an abundant harvest.
Have a fruitful day!
