Blog Entries

Seed Starting

gabriel@marguglio.com — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 05:00:00 +0100

Starting seeds indoors

Starting seeds indoors is one of the greatest joys of the vegetable growing season. In the dead of winter, we witness the magical transformation of a seed into new life. Gardening with kids provides a unique opportunity to teach life cycle lessons, and if you play your cards right, nutritious eating habits. I've had success on both counts in my own backyard vegetable garden: www.http://northernvirginiagardener.blogspot.com/

Knowing when to start seeds indoors takes [...]

What is the Value of the Virginia Cooperative Extension Master Gardener Program?

gabriel@marguglio.com — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 05:00:00 +0100

A Virginia Cooperative Extension - Master Gardener (VCE-MG) is an individual who acts on behalf of VCE as a volunteer educator within his or her community after receiving specialized training in environmental horticulture through cooperative programming with VCE. Master Gardeners are trained to provide environmental education that meets SOL's, assist schools in establishing and maintaining schoolyard gardens, counsel homeowners about proper lawn care, and conduct environmental outreach to the [...]

Teach Our Children to Live Green

as@greenlivingconsulting.com — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 05:00:00 +0100

"Our children are our future. Teach them well and let them lead the way." I'll never forget these lyrics, and the more work I do in the green sector, the more powerful they become to me. Many of us are making changes as adults to have less impact on the earth and live healthier lives. But it is not always easy, especially when it requir [...]

Feels Like Spring

karen@simplifyforlife.com — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 05:00:00 +0100

I don't know about you, but yesterday with the sun shining so brightly and the temperature in the high 40s, it almost felt like spring was in the air. Just as nature changes for the better (in my opinion) in the spring, many of us feel the urge to bring positive change to our homes, schedules and self. With spring, comes the desire to make our homes lighter and brighter. Additionally, we look for ways we can free up time to enjoy the longer days and maybe mak [...]

Extend the Growing Season With a Cold Frame

gabriel@marguglio.com — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 05:00:00 +0100

Given the right conditions, a vegetable garden will yield a year-round supply of fresh produce. You can extend the growing season by sheltering plants from frost in early spring, late fall, and even winter. There are several options for protecting crops against cool weather. Your choices depend on the amount of time and money you want to invest.

A Safer Home

Each day, families are put to risk by household cleaning products fo [...]

Green manure

gabriel@marguglio.com — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 05:00:00 +0100

Brooksfield’s garden project is off to a strong start. The two raised
beds where we’ll plant vegetables and perennials require some soil
amendment, and Fall is the ideal time to get started. By preparing the
soil in the Fall, we’ll ensure that the garden is ready when the first
warm days lure us outside.

One method for restoring nutrients to soil is to plant a cover crop,
or green manure. A green manure is an organic method for improving

Holiday Green Living Tips by Adrienne Spahr

as@greenlivingconsulting.com — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 05:00:00 +0100

It’s estimated that between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, Americans generate one million tons of waste a week. Holiday gift giving and decorating doesn’t have to sacrifice the environment – with some creative green thinking and action, you can have a festive holiday that is good for the planet, and maybe even your pocketbook!

Here are Green Living Consulting’s tips for a Green Holiday:

Keep up the 3 R’s Through the Holidays
[...]

December Happenings!

a@a.com — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 05:00:00 +0100

The Lower School Classrooms at Brooksfield School are beginning to look festive! One 3 to 6 year old classroom is studying Kwanzaa. They had fun lighting the candles on the Kinara and celebrating the seven principles like unity (umoja) and faith (imani). They even made their own Kinara to hang up in the classroom!

In another Montessori classroom the children are stud [...]

The Classrooms Are Buzzing with Activity:

a@a.com — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 05:00:00 +0100

The Lower School classrooms at Brooksfield School are alive with activity! For the Artist of the Month, one preschool classroom is studying Claude Monet. He was from Paris and lived more than 150 years ago. He painted in the style called impressionism. He loved to paint outside. One child even commented, “He made that painting that looks like it&rsq [...]

Organizational Consultant: Karen Gardiner

karen@simplifyforlife.com — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 05:00:00 +0100

Come back for organizational tips and news.

Karen Gardiner

www.simplifyforlife.com

Nutrition Consultant: Lisa Wilson

nourishedllc@verizon.net — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 05:00:00 +0100

Come back for Nutrition tips and news.

Lisa Wilson

Greeen Living Consultant: Adrienne Spahr

as@greenlivingconsulting.com — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 05:00:00 +0100

Come back for green living news and tips...

Adrienne Spahr

www.greenlivingconsulting.com

info@greenlivingconsulting.com

Master Gardener: Brenda Kouyoumdjian

gabriel@marguglio.com — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 05:00:00 +0100

Brenda Kouyoumdjian

Virginia Master Gardeners are volunteer educators who work within their communities to encourage and promote environmentally sound horticulture practices through sustainable landscape management education and training. As an educational program of Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia Master Gardeners bring the resources of Virginia’s land-grant universities, Virginia Tech and Virginia State University, to the people of the commonwealth.

[...]

Organic gardening

a@a.com — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 05:00:00 +0100

Organic Gardening tips from the students at the Brooksfield School:

The students at the Brooksfield School, a private Montessori School located in McLean, Virginia, worked and toiled in the campus gardens this week. If you are gardening this fall remember garlic can be planted now! Fall is also a great time to prepare the soil for the winter by mixing it with organic manure!

In the Montessori preschool classrooms our Lower Schoo [...]

Welcome to our Blog

info@brooksfieldschool.org — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 05:00:00 +0100

Here you will find updates about the progress on our new GREEN SCHOOL.

3:28 PM