Sunday, May 24, 2009

Why I Homeschool

My husband and I decided to homeschool our children before they were even born, and I have never wavered from this. I feel so incredibly strongly that the public school system does NOT have the best interests of children at heart; so I keep them home with me, despite whatever controversy this brings to me--and it has already brought it's fair share, even though my boys are only 6 & 2!
So I have spent the last six years researching homeschooling, and teaching methods, learning styles, the people behind the homeschool movement, and the history of education--along with all of the other things I've taken an interest in along the way (ie: gardening, which led me to companion planting and bio-intensive gardening, writing, eco-action, and even an interest in current affairs and politics that has cropped up recently).
I feel that we've all become enslaved my the institution of School for the purpose of driving the economy for the rich and elite. Over the last one-hundred years our intellect and ingenuity have been slowly filtered out of us. Our children are locked away from the world and every day life under the guise of education, they learn nothing except to obey. Most people likely don't even know how to think; and I believe that most of us don't even realize it! I often wonder how easy it is to manipulate us through television and the media? I wonder what it looks like en-masse?
Anyway, I could go on and on about the downfalls of the school-system, but that's not what this post is about.
While my dissatisfaction with the system is by and large a major role player in why I refuse to put my children in the nearest public institution, the main reason why I keep my boys home with me twenty-four-seven is simply because I enjoy it! I LIKE learning new things; I LIKE to study, to do research, to explore new things I'm curious about, and to experience new things, places, and meet interesting people. There is a whole big world out there around us. I'd like to experience some of it; and be a part of it during this lifetime. Though I got a late start in life, I can give my children a good head-start, and, maybe, an advantage that some of the drones won't have. Maybe that will give them some sort of advantage. Maybe someday the homeschoolers will step forward, and lead the Bewildered out of the Institution and into the light of day to think for themselves. And Oh! What a world we could have!
If there are parents, mothers, teachers--ANYONE--out there who feels trapped by life and society--I encourage you to encourage others to step away from the institution and the path that is so easy to tred. Think for yourselves; learn new things; and encourage all to give their children the gift of a REAL education, the power of knowledge is real, and we only have to seek it to reap its rewards.

Friday, May 22, 2009

It's Planting Season Again!

Hello World!
Spring has come to my home in the foothills of central Maine, and with it has come the time for sowing seeds and planting seedlings. I can't even begin to describe the feeling it gives me when I tuck a new, green plant into the dirt. Or the great pleasure I derive from just watering my gardens and seeing the progress each plant has made.
This connection I feel for the Earth is so strong, so powerful. I can't help but wonder how people can abuse this place the way they do. To me, it's all so beautiful and every bit of it is precious--down to every last cockroach, and mosquito. Yes, even the--gulp--spiders are beautiful (though I can't be held responsible for my actions if they come near me or actually get on me!).
I like to invite bugs into my garden through companion planting, and enjoy the wonder that is life on this planet we call home. Everyone knows about the bad bugs that eat your hard-won vegetables; but when you use companion planting, you can 'invite' predatory insects into your garden to eat the offensive buggers. It's life--but without the man-made chemicals. Also, some plants can be used to repel the party-crashers, like strong flavored herbs, and practically anything in the onion and garlic family.
Planting flowers--particularly those in the 'Aster' family ( ie: marigolds, daisies, chrysanthemums, coneflowers, etc.) gives pollinating bugs food, and draws them through your garden, which helps to increase yeilds. And, adding diversity to your garden also provides places for those beneficial insects to live when they're not dining, not to mention it all looks really great thrown together like that.
So if you're into organic gardening, and you can tolerate a bug or two, give companion-planting a try!