I just got 12 new kids in the program, 3 of whom I have wanted for a long time.

They live in Algeria. They have been watching me for years, with shy, wistful eyes.

Their father is an alcoholic who beats them and their mother, who in turn beats them.

Now they are in my class and happy children for at least a small time.

They confess to me that they found a rotting pumpkin and secretly carried it to the garden to see if it would grow. We wondered where that pumpkin had come… Continue

http://bellaartes.org/Bella_Artes_2/Our_Special_Guest.html

She came to our class with a microphone…three microphones actually.

Francesca is a Journalism graduate student at the Annenberg School of communication.

Maybe she will go report in Hong Kong next year. Maybe I can carry her bags?

She had heard and read about the arts and gardens program.

She loved our… Continue

The Art & Science program, working with the Health Program is planning a series of public garden projects.

These will involve:

• Creating an organic food garden in Estrella Park. This will provide healthy produce to those who might not otherwise be able to afford it. It will also promote a connection with the Earth and growing plants, which is often lacking in the city.

We also want to use companion planting to create a biologically healthy garden.

Companion planting… Continue