HSV GARDEN CHALLENGE

Garden Challenge Link Up #3

May 26, 2011 By Stef

Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness. James 3:18

Today is link up #3 for our Garden Challenge! Are you planting, weeding, or harvesting ?? This week link up your post showing: 1 current photo, something you (mom) have learned, and the first dish you will / have cooked with your garden bounty!

Looking for some garden recipe ideas? Continue the gardening fun by cooking with your homeschoolers!

Vegetable Lasagna – The Pioneer Woman
End of Summer Vegetable & Herb Casserole – Simple Mom
5 Meals to Help You Eat Well - Spend Less – Life As Mom
Stuffed Tomatoes – The Happy Housewife
Quinoa and Black Bean stuffed Bell Peppers – O My Family
Basil Pesto – Sabby in Suburbia
Fresh Blueberry Pie - Family, Stamping and Food

Are your beans starting to get a bit out of control? Build your own trellis!

Building a Trellis out of Found Objects, Garden Sweet Garden
How to Build a Garden Trellis, I Love My 5 Kids

As always – thanks for joining us! Be sure to check out the other links for some great gardening ideas !! Next month will be our last Garden Link Up June 29th! (if you are on twitter use #hsvgarden and we’ll be happy to retweet your garden posts to our followers)!

Filed Under: HSV GARDEN CHALLENGE

HSV Garden Challenge Link Up #2

April 28, 2011 By Stef

The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. Isaiah 58:11

Welcome the the 2nd link up for the HSV Garden Challenge! We were blown away last month by your participation and excitement! I think everyone is ready for Spring! We hope you are still as excited to get into the dirt and your homeschoolers are enjoying this project together!

April Sponsor:

Thanks to Unit Studies by Amanda Bennett – the 1st 10 link ups will receive the Gardens Unit Study ! Be sure to follow Unit Studies by Amanda Bennett on Facebook for latest releases, great deals, and other news!

This month link up:

1 current photo – should show progress (sprouts or melting snow maybe this time??)
resources – books, magazines, bible stories, etc.
any speed bumps (bugs, weeds, weather, etc.)
children’s reaction / involvement

You might be interested to check out & follow some gardening blogs like …

Garden Sweet Garden

Skippy’s Vegetable Garden

Graceful Cottage Gardening

Be sure to check out our homeschooling friend The Happy Housewife and her post on Frugal Gardening Tips!

If you do not have a blog – and would like to share your gardening fun please join us at our Blog Frog Community.

** The weather has been brutal in many states as of late – please know we are praying for you & your families **

Filed Under: HSV GARDEN CHALLENGE

HSV Garden Challenge Link Up #1

March 31, 2011 By Stef

“Other seeds fell on good soil and produced a crop. They grew up, increased in size, and produced 30, 60, or 100 times what was sown” Matthew 4:8

WELCOME to the HSV Garden Challenge! Today we kick off an exciting adventure teaching our homeschoolers valuable life lessons using soil, seeds, sunlight, water, and fun. Lots of fun!! We are so thankful you would join us and share your gardening experience!

Our generous March sponsors:

CurrClick is offering the first 10 participants to link up a $15.00 CurrClick Gift Certificate. * always use a valid email address when linking up — we will email you the gift certificate info!! Please take time today to visit their site – follow them & thank them for their homeschool support on twitter or facebook!

Homeschool Creations is offering all link ups (and blog frog participants) a Garden Preschool Pack ! This is a wonderful resource to include your little ones in on the fun! Every link up will receive the BONUS PART of the pack created just for The HSV Garden Challenge! * always use a valid email address when linking up — we will email you the BONUS preschool pack! Keep track of all the fun at Homeschool Creations on facebook

Today link up your First Homeschool Garden post - Include:

PHOTO — 1 current photo where you will be gardening (actual location)
PLANS – what you are/have/gonna plant – (seeds / starter plants / herbs)
RESOURCES — books, magazines, verses, unit study, etc.
INVOLVEMENT — homeschooler’s reaction / participation / anticipation

If you do not have a blog – please join us at our Blog Frog Community. Photobucket

If you are on twitter share your garden posts with the hashtag #hsvgarden.

Helpful Articles!!
Composts – by Simple Mom

Garden & Child Safety Information – via KidsGardening.org – please read this article concerning Pesticides, Accidents, Lead Poisoning, Allergic Reactions, Illnesses, and Poisonous Plants.

Garden / Gardening Resources – CurrClick – Do you need some journals, unit studies, books or other resources?

Come back April 28th (10amEST) for the next Garden link up and new sponsor / giveaway! Thank you for joining us!

HSV Garden Challenge

Grab the above button (copy it) or use the following code:

Filed Under: HSV GARDEN CHALLENGE

HSV Garden Challenge Q&A

March 17, 2011 By Stef

Since we received a few questions – we wanted to quickly address them for everyone before the HSV Garden Challenge starts in 2 weeks!

1. I am not a blogger – can we still participate? YES!

Join us on our Blog Frog community (it’s free to sign up, and you can share your updates, photos, etc. for each link up date or check in more times per month!)

2. We have no land / we rent – does a pot plant count? YES! Pot plants, window boxes, herb garden, small garden, big garden … anything you plant in the ground, tend, teach your children, and pick for your homeschool use will be counted for our Gardening Challenge!

3. I have a brown thumb – everything always dies! Are you judging gardening success? NO! We are picking random winners. We are far more interested in the life lessons your children are learning than ripe veg! (2 years ago I planted 14 tomato plants – after bugs and an overly wet spring we harvested FOUR tomatoes (not plants – individual tomatoes) that type of experience is not “disqualified”. Some of the best lessons come from challenges. We are not giving out blue ribbons !!

4. I’m not good about remembering to link up – can we occasionally link up? YES! The link ups are for your garden updates to share and encourage each other! However – only those who have linked up every month will be entered to win the $20 Visa cards!

5. Will you offer some tips once the Challenge starts? YES! But please know we are not gardening experts. We are joining you in the fun and learning right along side. If you are on twitter and have a few tips to share use #hsvgarden

6. Will there be other giveaways during the Challenge? YES! We are delighted CurrClick is partnering with us in March – we have another sponsor joining us in April — and an awesome Preschool Pack for all the little ones participating!! More details to follow!

7. Do I have to put the button on my site? NO! But its so cute why not?! Besides – it is fun when you visit other sites and see they’re participating in the same fun as you! We encourage using the button but it is not “mandatory” to win.

8. I want to be one of the first 10 to link up, what time does the link up start? 10am est and will be open Thursday-Sunday

9. I’ve already planted can we still participate? YES! However your garden looks – March 31st is the start date. We realize people in the far north will not be planting until mid April – if you’re starting plants inside, raking overgrown beds, or just buying seeds let us know what you are doing March 31st!

To participate:

Join us and link up once per month March 31st, April 28st, May 26th, and June 30th – sharing a post of your latest garden update . Include: 1 current photo, progress, lessons/resources being used, and homeschooler’s reaction / involvement!
Grab the button and put it on your site during the challenge (thanks Jolanthe Relevant Designs)

Winners: will be announced July 7th! 3 random winners (who have participated all 4 months) will be chosen !

First 10 participants to link up March 31st will receive a $15.00 CurrClick Gift Certificate.

Not sure WHAT to plant WHEN? Check out the Farmer’s Almanac Guide!

Good luck and happy gardening!

Special Thanks to CurrClick for supporting The HSV Garden Challenge in March!!

* Currclick gift certificate can be used to purchase anything from the website.
* HSV Garden Button – Jolanthe, Relevant Designs