Ruth asks…
When and what is the best way to begin really teaching my son for homeschool?
I knew before I even had kids I would homeschool, as I have been on both sides and know that the schools where I live are some of the worst. I know i’m starting research early, my son isnt even one yet, but thats my style. Because I know I’m homeschooling him, when and how should I start? I do not want learning to be a foriegn thing, or to just start suddenly…I will always teach him whenever I have the opportunity, so when and how should I transition it to a more school-like setting?
Any hints and tips would be appreciated, thank you.
GardenersCardiff answers:
Actually, you started the day he was born! There is no golden moment, or golden method. By the time your child turns 5 he will have made the most important learning accomplishments of his life in the most natural manner. Interaction with you, family and friends will teach him important social skills. You will hold his finger and he will walk. You will ask him to say Mom (and he might say Dad) and he will learn important language skills. Formal education? Well, why not just follow the same pattern. When he says, “Mom, bug.” Say, “Yes, lady bug. They eat the pests in the garden so we can have good vegetables.” When he says, “Why is the grass green?” Tell him because the blades have chlorophyll. If he has asks what chlorphyll is, just keep going. If he asks something you don’t know, teach him the most important thing of all, how to find the answer to his question.
At some point you may or may not transition to a school like setting. Many homeschoolers “unschool.” This is basically just continuing to educate in the natural manner we did before the government said our children were of age to educate by professionals. To avoid the 1st year jitters that most homeschool parents suffer, contact your local homeschool group now. Tell them you plan to homeschool and you really want to interact with the community since homeschooling is a lifestyle so you can learn from the veterans before you actually get into formal schoolwork. They usually have book fairs, field trips and other meetings that it would be easy to participate in. You can get great information without having to do the total immersion at age 6 – which seems to be exactly what you are thinking! I applaud you for that.
In the meantime, enjoy him and keep up the research. There are as many ways to homeschool as there are children. That is the beauty of it all . If I might add to your reading list, check out Raymond Moore’s “Better Late than Early” and John Taylor Gatto’s “Dumbing Us Down” (actually, read everything Gatto, it will help you develop an idea of what your unique educational model should be by debunking the myths of our current publc education model). Here is online Gatto: http://www.johntaylorgatto.com/ I find that just as important as the actual education process is a firm foundation in your belief of what education is and its purpose.
Best to you and your son! Congratulations and wishing you great decisions.
Sharon asks…
How do I make a deep root waterer for my potted plants? Essentially for a Peace Lilly.?
I have heard that this can be done with items such as a recycled bottle, although I am not entirely sure of the design of such a creation. Any input would be great.
GardenersCardiff answers:
Depending on the size of the pot all you need is a water ball and dispenser.
Water ball – This can be a liter bottle or larger, so long as it holds water, that all you need to worry about.
Dispenser – This could be a straw with hole poked into it, piece of garden hose, a wooden, plastic, ceraminc cone. Anything that will get the water from the ball to the root, while bypassing the top soil.
The water ball will connect with the dispenser so that water will travel from the ball directly to the root. If you want the easy way, go to a local hardware store and grab one from them. If you would like to do it yourself, it’s all about creativity. I’ve seen them made from an old old squirter (Think Tin Man and Wizard of Oz) with the bottom cut off.
You could use a bottle that has hole poked in the lid end, the bottom cut off, and bury it so that the holes are near the roots, while the bottom is above the soil. Then you can pour water into the bottle and it will disperse through the soil, roots first.
Charles asks…
What is the best cat litter to get? I’ve tried a few and it always comes out of the box with my cat?
The cat litter goes everywhere. Looking for one that clumps, keeps the oder down, and doesn’t make a mess outside the box. What do you recommend and why?
GardenersCardiff answers:
Hi Glass House!
Any question about litter and litter boxes is one that cat people can answer and discuss for hours on end.
I sure can ID with your problem. I used to have tons of litter outside my boxes until I found the best litter boxes that I have ever used. I am not a spokesperson for either the litter or the type of box that I switched to years ago, so this is not an “infokittymercial”.
Many cats like to dig to “the bottom of the planet” in their boxes, and kick out a lot of litter from the box to begin with. As they jump out of the box, litter sticks to their paws. We found that the Clevercat box, ( which you can get for a very reasonable cost at Amazon.com) works great. The box is very high sided, and has a cover which is specially textured to catch a lot of that litter. There is no way they can kick litter outside this box, trust me. It also is great for neutered males who like to stand up to “pee”, as no urine can get over the top of the box. They are easy to clean as well.
Http://www.amazon.com/Clevercat-Top-Entry-Litter-Box/dp/B0009YSAZO/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1208878296&sr=8-1
I do not recommend plastic liners in any boxes because kitties just put holes in them with their claws, making a further mess.
We use World’s Best Litter. It is made of corn. It is clumpable, flushable and septic safe. You can find dealers if you go to their website: http://www.worldsbestcatlitter.com/Products/WBCL/default.aspx
It is extremely dust free and lasts a long time,and prevents odors from accumulating, if you scoop regularly, just needing to add fresh litter to keep the box pristine. In fact there is no scent of kitty box in our home. We have three boxes for two kitties and everyone is very happy.
Hope this helps. I know you are going to get tons of opinions. After much experimentation, we have solved our litter box problems totally.
Troublesniffer
Owned by cats for over 40 years
http://frequentlyfeline.blogspot.com/
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Michael asks…
Should boybands and ‘bubble-gum’ pop music be revived to save the music industry?
As you all know, the music industry is basically shrinking. More people are purchasing music illegally and less people are buying albums.
It is also evident that during the time when boybands like “N-Sync”, “A1” and “Savage Garden” was around, the music industry was booming as people felt that it was good to ‘own’ these boybands by purchasing their albums. It makes them feel a ‘part of something’.
The 90’s also saw the rise in popular music as many people were seen queuing up at CD stores wanting to get their hands on their favorite albums. How often do we see situations like that these days?
Besides the fact that music can be ‘downloaded’ online or purchases has been made easier. Didn’t anybody consider the fact that music these days have sucked tremendously? Too-much auto-tuning and too many ‘techno-logic’ sound has made music lose it’s natural sounding pleasure.
Question is, why are less people buying albums and are downloading illegally now? Is the problem the downloading itself or is the music too ‘cheap’ and ‘suckish’ to buy at a store?
GardenersCardiff answers:
Internet is much better. Internet downloading was just something phasing in at that time. It was there, but not many people knew how to do it. Also, don’t forget that at those times (2000) mp3 technology was very new, and it was hard to get an mp3 above 56kbs. Not only that, they were full of beep sounds due to a lack of buffer and other ripping technologies.
The other concern was space. When those bands were big, a 5GB hard drive was about average. Thats not much music on top of everyday applications – like doom.
So storage and bad format of media was one reason it wasn’t downloaded, as well as it not being fully known.
To go back to those bands would bring upon the apocalypse. I will surely kill if i had to put up with that again.
Think before you type. I could say that music in 1880’s was more successful, due to none of it being pirated.
Daniel asks…
garden stuff?
ok well i have lots of things to ask, i’ve just got into the whole gardening thing =) it’s so easy now i know what i am doing! well with a little help of you lovely people =) so….
i have alot of left over fruit and veg and plant clippings of weeds and stuff.. i got a big black pot and made some holes in the sides and i put it in the ground and chucked it all in there.. i’m thinking it would be ok as it will rot away.. am i right in thinking that?
also could i do the same sort of thing for my dogs poop?
would i need to put anything in with it? i put a big paving stone over the one i just done.. also is a water butt a really good thing.. do plats like rain water more than tap water? as there is chlorine in it..? sorry if i sound like a total newbie to it but i am =D also i want to plant some carrots but i have to do it in pots as my dog will eat them. how deep do i need the pots? i got my spuds in tires so she cant get them and my other plants are on a table. till i get fencing!
wow i said alot but i wasnt done lol is there any way of getting cheaper dirt? i’ve been paying like £4 for a bag at B&Q is there anywhere else? i’m in the uk here so some uk shops or places would be good.. also do i need to get some horse poo for growing my mushrooms? because i cant seem to find any in B&Q 
oh sorry again!! i’m growing some pumpkins and there kind of leaning on the dirt should i stake them? like i am ment to with butter nut squashes? as they are from the same family.. also growing things like onions do the need stone free dirt like carrots? and do radishes need it too?
hello anyone there?
not the answers i was looking for but thanks for answering 
GardenersCardiff answers:
Okay one thing at a time. First off I’m in the USA, so some things I can’t speak on. However:
Compost bucket sounds very good. I wouldn’t mix in the dog excriment, that I would bag up and throw out. There are products that can be added – lyme is one good one, but there are other things, this is best asked at a nursery store. Remember to use a pitch fork and turn it every so often.
Yes rain water is best for plants, if you can get a large barrel you can collect it and use a bucket to get it out for watering. If you can’t, tap water will work fine.
Carrots need at least 12 inches of dirt for growing, I think it’s funny that your 4 legged child would eat them!!
Pumpkins are a ground vine, if you stake them the fruit will pull the vines down when it gets too heavy and damage the plant.
I know there was more, but I can’t remember,,,sorry. I hope this helps!
Sharon asks…
my cat simply refuses to do her things in the right place?
For the past 2 months I’ve been battling with my cat because she just simply doesnt want to go do no. 1 and no. 2 in the garden. I have an open layout house, and an easy access garden 24/7 and she just wont use it no matter what. I do have a dog that uses it however.
I dont use litter boxes and neither do i plan to mainly because she has access to a garden, secondly because where I live, litter boxes are a luxury, they are expensive and not to mention the litter itself is extremely expensive and cats have lived without litter in their lives before. Thirdly, due to the fact that i have an open layout in my house.. i cannot put the litter box anywhere inside because the smell would be all over the house… i’d still have to put it out in the garden.. far from her favorite bathroom spot.
SO… the reason she goes inside the house in my opinion is because my house has a small inside garden under the stairs. She started using that as her favorite no. 1 area and the floor around it as her no, 2 area. From the very beginning i’ve been discouraging her to not use that.. to the point that I’ve covered it in plastic to deter her and so far it has worked. But now she chose another area… INSIDE the house, no matter all the efforts I’ve made to encourage her to go outside. I even give her treats after she goes outside..but she only goes outside when im watching her… if im not there she goes inside the house……. which makes it all the more harder because i cant… surprise her…..
I’ve noticed that she goes to the point of waiting to the LAST minute.. when she cant hold it in anymore to use the garden while i watch her… she really refuses to use it… HELP!!!!!!! i do not understand this behavior or how to change it….
BTW. I dont plan to get rid of my kitten.. she has to learn.. there has to be a way….
The reason why a litter box is a luxury is because Im not in the US. Litter is hard to find and when found is sold for three times the amount u find it at petsmart.
GardenersCardiff answers:
Litter boxes a luxury? Strange. Where do you live ?..way up on top of a mountain?
Anyways..she wont go in the garden cause the dog uses that…yuck! Many cats dont even want other cats in their box much less a dog!
This is what you could do. Build another garden outside but put it up high ..low enough for kitty to easily jumpp too…but high enough that doggy cant get to it. The reason she wont go outside is only because of that dog!
However if i were you…id get some bleepn cat box and litter. If a litter box is a luxury what the hell are you doing with a cat and a dog???
Well that sucks for you having to pay three times the going rate for a place for kitty to poop! I would just make a box type garden outside that doggy will not be inclined to use. A cat loves to be high up. This makes them feel in control…….a taller garden box like office buildings use around an entrance would be great for kitty…..she most likely would be attracted to that box so she can keep her eyes on that dumb dog…..lol!
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