Mr. James’s Tips

Mr. James’s Number One Best Practice is to be sure to have someone in charge who is wholly dedicated to the students and the garden program and who takes full responsibility for it.

• You have to have the person with the energy, vision and persistence.  At Blaker Kinser, that person is Mr. James, but it could be a parent.  Whoever it is, there has to be someone who is the “Go To” person, who takes responsibility for what happens in the garden.
• Make the students’ work projects “real work.” Don’t just give them busy work or work for a grade. Each year, Mr. James figures out a new major project for the kids. In addition, kids remake tools, fix irrigation, make benches, all on top of planting, tending and harvesting crops.
• Be sure the garden area is secure, so students know that their hard work is safe. These kids are pretty darn dedicated to the garden. It’s their place, and they are proud of it. They don’t want to see it ruined.  This is an unpleasant reality in today’s world.
• Have a reliable irrigation source. Teach the kids how irrigation is put together and how the parts work. Teaching about pressure regulators, spacing, etc. links to math and science lessons.
• Plant crops that will bear fruit when the kids are in school. You have to have plants and trees that are bearing fruit when they are here—citrus, mandarins, pomegranates.  A huge part of having a year long class is seeing the seasons. Students should see the seasons from start to finish.  The goal is to incorporate more language arts into it. Like Mas Masamoto’s book or a reading.

Working with Middle School students—“Their energy is amazing!”

• There are a lot of misconceptions about kids this age. It isn’t that hard to work with them. This kind of environment is perfect for them. A lot of education is logical/mathematical and based on verbal intelligences. We don’t do enough using the other modalities, but the garden is a place where we can.  Here, it’s interpersonal as well as kinesthetic and other intelligences are used as well.
• Every day is a problem-solving day.
  There is always something new to consider. I am always thinking about what we’re doing and what we should do next. I come out every day and walk it and just see what needs to be done.  Gradually I learn who can do what and where each student’s talent lies.   
• Keeping the kids involved in real-life projects is a key factor and repays years later. 
  When they have buy-in and a sense of ownership, they love it. Two former students came around while Mr. James was being interviewed.  One now runs an after school program in the district. He “remembers everything” about the class, and says, “Mr. James always had us doing something.  We always had a task.”
  
  The other is Jay Simmons, Director of Educational Options and Community Relations. He, too, remembers the class fondly.  “It all goes back to him (Mr. James).  He puts his heart and soul into it, and he respects the students.”