*Virtual meeting.

Objective: To provide participants with a way to track the rain and weather. This will help to build awareness of how water affects their gardens and neighborhood ecosystem.

Agenda:

1. Introductions: Everyone found an object that made them smile and shared it with the group.

2. Children's Garden Program coordinators and collaborators were introduced.

3. A slideshow from one of our funders, the Capitol Region Water District, was used to introduce our 2021 season theme.

4. Discussion: What can we do to help keep our water safe and clean?

5. Students from our partner organization, Imhotep Science Academy, demonstrated how to build a rain gauge.

6. Introduce Weather and Water Watching, ask gardeners to get their "Neighborhood Weekly Weather Report" and talk about how to fill it out.

7. Snack: Fruit Cup and string cheese. Prepared ahead of time and delivered ahead of time.

8. Closing and any directions for next week shared.

Logistics: The day before our meeting we delivered packages to participants' homes that included materials that had been prepared by Imhotep students to assemble their rain gauges, along with a snack. Participating families received a Garden-in-a-Box from the Minnesota Horticultural Society and CG volunteers helped install the boxes.

Lessons: We learned that it was especially difficult to connect with and keep the attention of younger participants in Zoom meetings. For future meetings we limited the material covered and could have limited it even more. Less is more when it comes to active, online learning in our experience.

*Virtual meeting.

Objective: For gardeners to use all of their senses to be aware of what's happening in the garden. This is how they will know what their next steps in the garden will be. For example, if you can see that your strawberries are red and smell sweet, that they are firm but not hard, then they are ready to be harvested. Or if you put your fingers one or two inches into the ground and it is dry, then your garden needs water. Observing helps us know what kinds of bugs—both helpful and damaging—are living in our gardens, determine if a plant is diseased, see what is blooming or fruiting, and learn about what is happening with the weather.

Agenda: As our meeting was over Zoom, we looked at a series of images from the garden and practiced being good garden observers:

1. Welcome and introductions, gardeners asked to talk about Weather & Water Watching.

2. How to be a good garden observer:

   1. Notice the small details.

   2. Look high and low, in flowers and under leaves, on stems and inside fruits.

   3. Use all of the senses available to you—sight, hearing, smell, taste and touch.

   4. Ask yourself, how are things different? How are they the same?

   5. Pay attention to shapes, sizes, colors, textures, and smells.

3. Introduce Photovoice.

4. Engineers Without Borders and Imhotep students energy demonstration.

5. Water Drama! Check out the video Water Cycle Dance lesson. This was a great way to practice kinesthetic learning (learning through physical movement).

6. Snack! Healthy S'mores: Peanut Butter or Sunflower Seed Butter on graham crackers topped with sliced bananas. We talked about how to make more nutritious versions of our favorite snacks.

7. Closing and any directions for next week shared.

Logistics: The day before our meeting we delivered packages to participants' homes that included materials for lessons and ingredients to make the snack during our meeting.

Lessons: Making snacks took up more time than we thought it would! We continued to learn that most things took much longer on Zoom than they did in person in the garden. Keeping the attention of all of the gardeners at the same time, many of whom were together with one computer/tablet, was a challenge.

*Virtual meeting.

Objective: Learn how to determine wind direction. If we know what direction the wind is coming from we can better determine what kind of weather to prepare for, especially rain!

Agenda:

1. Welcome and introduce guest presenters. We played Israel Kamakawiwi'ole's, "Over the Rainbow" to give everyone time to log in to Zoom and get settled in.

2. Local author and librarian Mélina Mangal read her book, Jayden's Impossible Garden. Visit Melina's website to learn more about her books and to find resources, including a Book Video and Downloadable Activities.

3. Ask gardeners about their observations from Weather & Water Watching.

4. Make a Weather/Wind Vane! Imhotep students walked us through the process.

5. Snack: Fruit Pizza with whole grain English muffins. We discussed what it means for something to be 'whole grain' and what whole grains do for our bodies.

6. Discuss planting Scarlet Runner Bean seeds. Share resources for gardeners to plant their own seeds.

Logistics: The day before our meeting we delivered packages to participants' homes that included cameras for participants to use for Photovoice, ingredients for the snack, and materials for planting seeds and making a weather vane.

Lessons: We had difficulties explaining the Photovoice project. It was an important part of documentation for our grant reporting, but with young gardeners it was necessary to be together physically to walk them through the process—when we did get the opportunity to do so it was great. The children loved taking photos with their cameras and were engaged and creative with their images. Some gardeners really connected their thoughts and what they were learning with their photographs. It was more difficult with some of the younger gardeners and would have been more successful if we had been in the garden from the beginning.

*Virtual meeting.

Objective: Build a sense of individual and community responsibility for the health and supply of clean water. Learn about where our drinking water comes from.

Agenda:

1. We began the meeting with Alice Di Micele's, "Celebrating The Rain" to give everyone a chance to log on and settle in.

2. Welcome! Gardeners were asked to share a picture that they took (Photovoice), share how their Gardens-in-a-Box were doing or any observations about the weather.

3. Saint Paul Regional Water Services presents. She discussed:

   1. What we use water for

   2. How to use it wisely

   3. Where it comes from

   4. How it is treated so that humans can drink it

   5. Where it goes when we're done with it or when it goes down street drains

4. Discussion: We asked gardeners what they can do to save water and help keep it clean.

5. Compost and Snack! Presented Edible Compost Activity and talked about how to compost, what is good and bad to put into your compost and the benefits of compost for gardens and soil.

6. Closing: We asked gardeners to think about and take a picture that shows where water travels and where compost comes from for next week.

Logistics & Resources: The day before our meeting we delivered packages to participants' homes that included ingredients for our snack and other materials for lessons.

*Virtual meeting.

Objective: To build an awareness of how scientists and everyday people use science to study and help protect water.

Agenda:

1. We began the meeting with The Temptations, "My Girl"—I've Got Sunshine!—to give everyone a chance to log on and settle in.

2. Welcome: Everyone was asked to share their name and a picture they took or drew based on what we learned last week.

3. We sent a poll to ask how much water a garden needs per week.

4. Science Museum of Minnesota Community Engagement(see slideshow) presented about the science used to protect and preserve water. We also learned about what causes water to be polluted and how people are fighting for clean water.

5. The Science Museum guest presenter provided materials for gardeners to make their own Secchi Disk and went over how to use it to measure water clarity.

6. Gardeners were asked to choose a body of water to monitor (a lake, pond, river) and to visit it. The test is best done at midday when the light is clear and the water calm.

7. Snack: Cucumber slices with cottage cheese, topped with shredded cheddar. We talked about how cucumbers are full of water and what other fruits and vegetables contain a lot of water. We discussed how water in fruits and vegetables helps our bodies digest and use nutrients.

8. Closing: For next week, we asked gardeners to think about and take a picture of what their favorite things to do with water are.

Logistics & Resources: Materials for the Secchi Disk and snack were delivered to participants homes the day before our Virtual gathering.

*Virtual meeting.

Objective: Build awareness about how water affects and connects us all and the cultural differences in the ways that people relate to water.

Agenda:

1. Welcome: Everyone shared their name and their favorite thing to do with water.

2. We met virtually with kids in a daycare in New Zealand (that we connected with through parters of the Urban Farm & Garden Alliance).

3. Mélina Mangal read Carole Lindstrom's book, We Are Water Protectors and we all took the pledge included at the end of the book.

4. Mélina led a discussion using questions included in the Activity Kit provided by the publisher.

5. We made signs that reflected the actions that we will take to protect Water and Earth.

6. Snack: We continued our conversation with our New Zealand friends. We had a request for sandwiches and talked about all the things you might put in a sandwich.

7. Closing: We encouraged gardeners to take a picture to share with our new New Zealand friend for next week.

Logistics: We delivered materials for sign making and the snack the day previous to our meeting.

*This is the first week we were able to meet in person in the garden.

Objective: To welcome everyone back to our newly completed garden space! We introduced the new infrastructure in a way that engaged gardeners and helped them understand the importance of water collection, extending the season, and including all kinds of people in our work.

Agenda:

1. Welcome! We made name tags and collected photo release forms from everyone.

2. We begin working in the garden, harvesting garlic and planting flowers. Each gardener chose a task and was introduced to an adult to support them in carrying out that task.

3. When our garden work was finished we gathered in a circle and everyone—young, old and in between—introduced themselves to the group. Each person shares their name, "I'm Tiger!" and the group responds, "Peace, Tiger!" Gardeners are asked to share any pictures they have for our Photovoice project.

4. Engineers Without Borders and Imhotep student are introduced and begin their presentations.

5. After a tour of our new greenhouse, Imhotep students shared posters and presented on how a greenhouse works.

6. The new water catchment system was explained. Gardners got to fill up big water guns and aimed for the roof so that they could see how gravity pulls rainwater off the roof, through clear pipes and into our cistern. We filled up watering cans from the cistern to water the garden.

7. Engineers Without Borders students shared a model of the permeable path to explain how it saves water by letting it flow through the bricks, rather than off of them and into storm drains.

8. Snack! We made Black Bean and Broccoli Quesadillas in the garden! We talked through the nutritional benefits of all of the ingredients and filled whole wheat tortillas with beans, broccoli, cheese and salsa, and heated them in an electric skillet.

Logistics: Having enough volunteers to assist young gardeners is an important of garden work. Especially in being able to give gardeners the opportunity for one-on-one learning. Coordinating with everyone ahead of time—EWB and Imhotep students, volunteers, parents, neighbors, and other partners—is key to making sure that everyone has what they need so that things go smoothly during our time together.

Lessons: Our cooking activity took much longer than we expected! Generally speaking, we learned with virtual meetings that we had to cut way back on planned activities. And in this first meeting in the garden we really packed in a lot of action. We made a detailed agenda and timeline, but things took the time that we took and we went well over our 5:00pm end time.

We hosted a National Night Out party at our garden in the Aurora-Saint Anthony Neighborhood and had a lot of fun. We made and decorated fans (it was a hot day). Many of our gardeners were there and we talked about the adopt-a-drain program through the City of Saint Paul.

Objective: Increase awareness of how our water sources become polluted and what we can do to prevent pollution. We need to spend more time getting support from parents and caretakers before proceeding with a formal drain adoption. We put on flourescent vests and took trash bags and disposable gloves to the end of the block to the drain. We discussed what storm water carried down the drain—trash, chemicals from the street and lawns, leaves, brush and grass trimmings. What goes down the drain goes to the river where our water comes from! We cleaned the drain and bagged the trash, and brought our bags back to the party to show everyone what we had done.

Objective: To give gardeners the perspective of an artist with a hands-on sensory water activity.

Agenda:

1. Welcome, gardeners make tags and photo release forms are collected.

2. We began by working in the garden. We filled our water cans from our new cisterns (that we learned about last week when we discussed the water catchment system) and planted bush beans.

3. We then gathered in a circle to make introductions. Gardeners shared photos that they had taken using their powers of observation to see how wind and water work on the natural environment.

4. Artist Aki Shibata, of the Victoria Street Theater Arts Center facilitated a workshop, Water as Shapeshifter:

   1. We learned about the different shapes that water can take by using different kinds of clear containers.

   2. Using dyes, we experimented by using putting dyes in the water to learn how to make color combinations.

   3. Gardeners then made watercolor paintings of different shapes that they found in the garden.

5. Snack: We made three different dips—Black Bean, Garlic Ranch and Lemon Hummus. We ate the dips with broccoli florets and carrots.

6. While painting and snacking, gardeners were encouraged to take photos using their cameras to show what they had learned or enjoyed in the garden. We printed the photos for them using a small portable printer.

Logistics: Our hand washing station got extra use this week, as gardeners had a great time mixing colors with their hands. We had water and towels at the ready for the workshop, Aki brought the vessels, dyes, and watercolor paints. Snacks were also prepped ahead of time

Lessons: We again had some difficulties navigating the Photovoice technology. We had difficulty connecting to the internet for printing photos and bridging the Apple/PC compatibility divide. It was difficult to get gardeners excited about that aspect of the program while we met virtually and once we were in the garden lessons and activities were prioritized.

For our final gathering we met at Hidden Falls Regional Park. The park runs along the Mississippi River just 6 miles from the Rondo Neighborhood. We reserved a shelter and there were several activities planned, including a riverside Water Protector & Earth Steward Ceremony.

Objective: To increase awareness of the Mississippi River and the water we use everyday for drinking, cleaning, cooking, and watering gardens. Like food doesn't just come from the grocery store, water does not just come from our faucets, it comes from the river. Instill a sense of responsibility for keeping our water clean and plentiful.

Agenda:

1. Sign-in and make name tags.

2. Welcome and introductions.

3. Everyone had some free time to check out the park and participate in activities.

4. We gathered at the river and had our Water Protector Gratitude Ceremony on the beach.

5. Make, grill and eat our traditional last gathering of the year Pizza!

6. Grow Cheer to conclude the event and the end of the season.

Snack: We had lots of fresh garden and farmers market vegetables including bell peppers, zucchini, onion, tomatoes and basil, as well as meat and cheese. We used pre-made Naan bread for crusts and set up an assembly line so everyone could make their own pizzas. They were then wrapped in aluminum foil and grilled. We also had a delicious Peach Cobbler made by Miss Peaches.