Outdoor Classroom at Progress South Elementary

23/07/2026

Hi, it's Beekeeper Bethany! It's been a long time since I've made a Buzz on Bees post but I thought I'd let everyone know I'll be speaking about bees at the Ethical Society Mid Rivers this Sunday. I will bring beekeeping equipment to see and honey to taste and we will be making solitary bee nesting houses to take home (limited supply). If anyone is interested, all are welcome.
https://www.ethicalsocietymr.org/this-week.html?fbclid=IwdGRjcATPg0djbGNrBM-DBmV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDDM1MDY4NTUzMTcyOAABHjUVKXQHtxbghrXQx530hJRORtTI3z1FcJxWipJfy7oiTdpcerWXnPEYNOf4_aem_SGj-eydh8Qzlklc0gy8ApQ

The Ethical Society Mid Rivers meets most Sundays in Saint Peters, MO to educate adults and children on how to foster a world that is democratic, compassionate, just, and sustainable. Our meetings are meant to stimulate personal growth, inspire humanist i

15/07/2026

What's the remedy for food borne illness from grocery produce? Growing your own food in your garden. The OC has had many iterations including becoming a pollinator supporter with the native plants and now the expansion of the vegetable gardening opportunities for our kids. You can absolutely have a successful garden w/o pollinator insects, but it would require hand pollinating the flowers with a cotton swab. Easier to grow plants that help the pollinating creatures survive to ensure our plants set fruit, right? They work together. My hope is that each kid who comes through Earth club and who spends time in the OC understands they can be successful at growing their own food.

09/07/2026

What do the tomatoes, eggplant, and petunia have in common?? Drop your answer below 👇

08/07/2026

Our OC has produced so many eggplants this summer. We've dropped some to the office, I took one to a neighbor who is going through a lot, and a dedicated and hardworking volunteer took one home.
Here's how they prepared it:
Sautéed eggplant seasoned with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Salad with lemon juice, olive oil, salt, pepper, and onion powder.
Tomatoes and zucchini are coming in. Come.work with me and leave with produce, pesticide free🌿
Photo credit Blake F.

08/07/2026

Have you pinched back your fall-blooming perennials yet? Here's why you should:

🍃Pushes blooms closer to fall
🍃Encourages more flowers
🍃Helps prevent the dreaded flop
🍃Creates a bushier, more compact plant
🍃Improves airflow

One important note: Timing matters. You have to do it now, or you risk cutting off forming buds or delaying blooms so long they get caught by an early frost.

08/07/2026

If you're free this morning from 9:15-10:30 ish, I'll be at the OC.
NJHS, I need some help watering and fertilizing and deadheading flowers.
Grown ups with hedge trimmers: we're taking on the overgrowth by the juniper.
Grown ups that have a wheelbarrow and a shovel, swing in and mulch with me.
Grown ups with a pole saw, we have some low hanging branches we could take down so kiddos aren't pulling on them.

There will be more opportunities to help, and I'd be very grateful for it! TY!

**I will not be at the OC tomorrow: I get to help at Extended School Year and I am so excited to spend time catching up with my small friends!!
PSE PTO
Kelsey Hart ♥️

03/07/2026

A Historyof gardens in America
https://gardens.si.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/TimelineAmericanGardenHistory-SmithsonianGardens-1.pdf

Be Safe 🇺🇸 Happy Fourth of July!

02/07/2026

I'll be working in the OC this morning from 9-10. The options to assist for NJHS are watering and spreading mulch. If you come, bring water, wear sunblock.
No weeding today, so no long sleeves needed.

30/06/2026

Marigold Petals May Contain as Much Protein as Some Grains, Plus the Amino Acid Behind Umami | Discover Magazine

Learn how marigold petals contain plant-based protein comparable to quinoa, umami-linked amino acids, and properties that could turn flower waste into future food ingredients.

30/06/2026

The mulch arrived! We will be adding mulch to our garden as and pathways to keep down weeds and add benefits to the soil as the wood chips decay over time.
I'll be at the OC from 8-9 on Thursday, July 2. We will be spreading mulch to the in ground garden to defeat the weeds and help with water conservation.