E'S 'NEW' BIKE

E's "New" Bike

DIY special insert

Here in the Place Under The Pine we make it a priority to be resourceful, for a good many reasons. We like the feeling of being able to solve our own problems. We like the environmental reasons; turning trash into treasure, or just keeping something out of the landfill. The kids also learn some great life skills and they have fun doing it. And, you cannot forget the bonus of saving some cash in the process.

This latest DIY project started last summer when E outgrew his little blue bike and started riding the 'Pretty Extreme' pink bike.

The Pretty Extreme's colours clashed with most of E's outfits. Something needed to change.

This bike, which was originally found on the side of the road, was Lolli's ride a few summers ago. It was kept in the backyard, unused, for a summer with the intent of fixing it up as soon as E was old enough to ride it.

Free Bike circa 2011

Well, a year after pedaling the pink bike around, a trip was taken to the Home Depot and a can of spray paint was bought. E walked down the spray paint aisle and within minutes his vision locked onto the Tremclad Metallic Red! "Red with sparkles" is how he described it.

The transformation started with the wheels being removed. Then copious amounts of painters tape and newspaper were wrapped around the parts that were to remain unpainted. The can of paint was shaken vigorously, as instructed, and everyone had a turn letting that red-shiny paint fly. A quick spray of black on the handlebar and we repeated the process again. Two coats completely covered any hint of the previous pink.

E was put to work reattaching everything his old Dad couldn't figure out.

Throw me the 5/16th will ya?

5/16th?

Some aftermarket accessories were added to bring a bit of dazzle and originality - a ringy bell, tinkly spoke thingies, two (count em) two lights, and a new reflector.

Not bad looking for a bike that was found on the side of the road years earlier. Total cost for this transformation ($10 spray paint, $10 in accessories): $20. Having a new bike: Priceless!

The 'New' Bike

However, a small problem arose on the inaugural ride of the 'new' bike - the training wheel broke!
This turned out to be a good thing though, as it motivated E to try riding the bike two wheel style. Being who he is, he succeeded first try and has not looked back.

Vintage picture of E without scrapes on knees and hands.

GARDEN 2014 UPDATE 3

GARDEN UPDATE 3

The last week has seen a big change in the garden, reaching that exciting point where plants turn to food. Students of previous years 'Dirty Hands' garden education training recognized the signs of harvest and were anxious to pick.

As in years past the Raspberry bush is the first produce to be picked. Many of the early flowering fruits have started turning the dark red that means they are ready for the picking. This first wave of early birds do not typically make it into the house, they are often popped into mouths by eager young gardening students. And, even though there were more berries this year, there were also three little helpers that rank raspberries in their top ten foods of all time.

Experienced pickers know the right ones to eat

Bushes are dripping with berries this year

As a first time picker, little Oskie was given the honour of trying the first raspberry of 2014. His face puckered a bit on the first bite, but, he quickly asked for "mo" (translated "more") while also pushing his fingers together signing "mo". Double asking was a sure fire sign these berries were full of great flavour (babies cannot tell a lie).

First raspberry of 2014 #looksdelicious

"Mo" raspberries were eaten that day

This years Cutting of the Lettuce honour was shared between Lolli and Elli, who lopped off two bowls full. At the Cutting of the Lettuce feast Elli ran back out to the garden three additional times to refill his bowl.

Lettuce aka Mixed Greens

In addition to the cutting, Lolli incorporated part of the PUTP culinary training by making her own salad dressing to accompany her fresh cut mixed greens. The recipe used was wholly original and goes as follows - equal amounts EVOO and fresh squeezed lemon juice, squirt of yellow mustard, dashes of salt and pepper, some sugar. Put all ingredients in a mason jar, secure the lid, shake.

Tasters of the Cutting of the Lettuce feast raved about the wonderful flavours of both the lettuce and the dressing.

More incorporation of the gardening program and the culinary arts program is expected in the future.

There have been many positives so far, but, not all is ideal in the PUTP garden. There has been disappointing results coming from the cabbage patch.
The preliminary plans envisioned a green, leafy, overproductive patch that grew not only cabbages but babies as well (see picture below). There is some literature in the PUTP library under the title Cabbage Patch Kids, that promote the idea of babies being born from cabbages. Further research has now concluded this was false. Babies come from storks, not cabbages.

Planners envisioned babies coming out of the cabbage patch

The disappointment in the cabbage patch comes from the lack of cabbages. The four cabbage plants that are currently in the patch are not growing, and in fact seem to be withering away, dying a slow death. There are three theories that are to be investigated, but, any help or advice from the public would be appreciated.

Theory 1) Slugs
Theory 2) The seeds were of low quality. The supplier, Dollarama, has never been used before this year.
Theory 3) Not enough love. As an under-performer these plants are often ignored by gardening students in favour of shiny bright things such as strawberries and raspberries.  

The loveless cabbage plant - in need of psychological help?

THE NEW STICK FAMILY

THE NEW STICK FAMILY

PUTPs first stick stickered car - a five member mobile! Two sharp looking parents, one girl who skips, a boy who plays hockey, and a now walking toddler who can flick a soccer ball up into the air multiple times. HONK HONK

Even though the Place Under The Pine has only one vehicle, the Ministry of Transport/People Moving thought it imperative that a unique identification method be applied to every motorized vehicle in the nation. 

Effective immediately : Every motorized vehicle is required to show how many frequent users ride in the car/van/truck using a simple method of identifying stickers (IDS).

The IDS method is very simple, a sticker representing each rider is applied to the rear window of the vehicle. Each stick figure must bear some resemblance to the rider it is intended to identify. For eg, a figure may have glasses, be participating in a sport that rider is known to like/participate in, be of a certain size in comparison to other figures, etc.

**Figures depicting rude behaviour will be removed immediately and a fine and/or time out time could be applied to offending citizen**

If a vehicle with these IDS are seen driving down the road, one is to honk a greeting (two short toots indicate HELLO, I SEE YOU).

BLOG TAKEOVER - KID'S LEGO CREATIONS

LEGO CREATIONS BY LOLLIPOP AND ELLIPOP

The other day when our Father was not paying attention we borrowed the camera to take a few pictures of the lego cars we made.

First up, Lollipop's comfort cruiser. It is meant to hold three people. I have taken a picture of the people. They come prepared with backpacks.

As you can see, the car is equipped with a steering wheel and a coffee cup. The camera blurred them out for some reason?

There are cup holders near every seat. I had to borrow the yellow chairs from my brother's boat - that is why he is yelling in the background, if you can hear that? I told him I will give them back when I'm done with taking the picture. Uh, little brothers.

Finally! Uh, big sisters. Now, for Ellipops stuff. First, I made a place where the rabbit can eat pies.


Then, when Lolli gave me back the chairs she stole, I finished my boat. It is a police boat. The man in the back is wearing a light on his head.

I have a police truck too. There were more chairs, but, I think Lolli stole them.

GARDEN 2014 UPDATE 2

THINGS ARE STARTING TO GROW!

GU2014 - 2

Tomato Transplant

One of our two tomato plants

There has been one failed transplant. A rainbow striped tomato, imported from the plant guy who sells plants every weekend off his driveway on McEwen Drive, withered and died. However, in its place one of the home grown Orange Heirloom from last year was planted and appears to be thriving.
This was the last available spot, and cage, that would accommodate a tomato plant, which leaves the PUTP with a surplus of four Orange Heirloom seedlings. These will be raffled off as the first ever PUTP's prize give-away extravaganza (see prize draw at the bottom of this post).

Sprouting Zucchini 

Zucchini's are a sproutin'

The first leaves of the zucchini plants are popping up. This late start was intentional in an effort to use the small garden space as efficiently as possible. Zucchini plants do take up vast amounts of space and will crowd out any neighbouring plants. Their placement in the 2014 garden is right next to the strawberry plants. In a few weeks when the zucchini plants are overtaking everything it will not impact strawberry production as they will be done for the season. That's your garden committee planning hard at work.

Raspberry Blooms

Look at all those potential berries!

This year the amount of flowering blossoms appear to be at a record high. The density, as seen by the picture, shows that in about two weeks the picking crew will need to be ready with five gallon buckets.

If you would like your own raspberry plant, we do have plenty of excess canes sprouting up between the paving stones.

Other Berry News

This year's first berry! Yum!

The first strawberry of the season has been picked. Tasters raved about its sweet strawberry flavour. Since that time six berries have ripened. Of those six, 50% were unedible, being bitten by some rodent or bird. An emergency garden committee meeting is being held to discuss solutions to this terrible situation. Any suggestions from the public on ways to deal with this problem would be greatly appreciated and considered.

More strawberries to come...

Now, the part you've all been waiting for...

PRIZE DRAW

Resident Showcase Model

If you are interested in one of the surplus Orange Heirloom tomato plants, please leave a comment and/or share this post on your facebook page and your name will be submitted into a random draw to be held in the next week.

Please note, winners must be local or willing to travel to the Place Under the Pine in the next few weeks*. 

*You must pick up your own winnings when it is convenient for the PUTP garden committee.

A very artistic and dramatic view of a brussel sprout plant, don't you think?

LEMONADE STAND - Grassroots entrepreneurship at its finest‏

The Kid's Lemonade Stand

Business Page

The youth training program here at the Place Under The Pine believes that real life experience is one of the best ways to learn, well, real life skills. That is why a plan by the younger citizens of the PUTPs to run a lemonade stand (alongside our Yard Sale) was approved. They were given full rein of the set up, running, and profits of the stand.

Step 1 - Getting Started. The plan started with a seemingly simple trip to the grocery store. But, that is where the first lesson in business actually began. What product to buy? How much to spend? How will it influence cost?

What might seem like common money sense, to buy low and sell high, is one of those skills that must be learned. So, with very little adult advice the children decided on two cans of no-name brand  pink lemonade (cost 67 cents each).  

Another suggestion by the 'adult consultants' was to offer another product, in the case of a customer who does not like lemonade. A case of water (at $1.97) was also purchased.

Step 2 - A business without a sign is a sign of no business. That classic saying was all it took to motivate the two budding business-children to make up a couple of informative posters to put on the stand - "I love lem-ons. 50 cents" and "Lemonade 50 cents".

Pink Lemonade!

I Love Lemons!

Step 3 - Set up. In cooperation with two other entrepreneurial children, from the Place Under the Lilac, who provided a table and some chairs, the lemonade stand was set up. A cooler with some ice, a half dozen bottles of water and a pitcher of pink lemonade was placed nearby and the crew was ready to sell.

Ready for business

 
Step 4 - Selling techniques. Something extra was needed to sell the lemonade as the weather was cold and cloudy. It was also early morning. Not the ideal time, or weather, for a glass of ice cold lemonade. Many different approaches to selling the lemonade were attempted, and most were successful. Waving to passing cars, chanting sale slogans, and sitting patiently (using the kid cuteness factor) made sales. But, what appeared to work the best was the simple questioning of passing garage-salers - 'Would you like some lemonade or a bottle of water? 50 cents."

This method would not only draw in the lemonade/water customer, but, also the crowd that thought the stand was cute enough to 'donate' to. Many people offered up donations to reward the kids for all their hard work.

By mid morning, just as the crowds were peaking, the stand ran into one of those delightful problems for business owners - they sold out of water!

A quick call to their supplier and fifteen minutes later they were stocked up again, motivated to sell even more.

As an added bonus, Lolli, brought a nice selection of rainbow loom bracelets to sell in addition to the lemonade. At 50 cents each she had no problem selling them, in one case a single customer bought five! 

Future lemonade seller.

Step 5 - Analysis and future plans. By the end of the day the business had racked in $13.20. A return on investment of 398.8%! An amazing result for these first time business tycoons.

This success inspired them to dream up even more elaborate businesses and ideas for future expansion. They are now looking to hire an 'adult' to BBQ hotdogs at the next sale. If you are interested please contact me and I will forward on your application. Providing your own BBQ and propane is an asset.

GARDEN 2014 - UPDATE #1

BACK TO WORK AND GETTING THOSE HANDS DIRTY

MOUA - GU1-2014

Work on the 2014 garden has started. The Ministry of Urban Agriculture has slightly modified production and refocused planting to increase output of the vegetables the citizens of the Place Under the Pine enjoy eating.

Brussels Sprouts, which were enjoyed by all last year, were planted in abundance this season. Six plants are thriving in the back row of the garden. Last years garden.

Zucchini, Lettuce, and an Eggplant are also to be included in this years planting plan.

Eggplant (left), Brussels Sprout (right)

OLD BUSINESS

The return of two strawberry plants, along with one new one, are expected to sharply increase the output of strawberries. 

Hoping all those flowers turn into berries

The one plant in section 4B has outgrown anything in the garden up to this point. The secret. In fall, or perhaps early winter, a cushion from one of the patio chairs somehow landed in the garden on top of this plant. It was then frozen there over the winter, covered with snow and ice, thereby shielding the plant from the worst of this terrible winter. This strange situation has really shown that a plan for winter coverage should be looked into this year.

NEW BUSINESS

The Ministry has also attempted, for the first time, to grow seeds from a previous garden plant. Some seeds from the orange heirloom tomatoes, which did extremely well in the garden in 2013, were saved. They have sprouted and are now in the process of being 'hardened'. Estimated time until planting is one to two weeks. Experts are optimistic they will survive and be the new cost effective way of growing a portion of our tomatoes in the future.

It may not look pretty, but all this stuff was headed to the garbage

The only new plant being tested this year is cabbage. Seedlings are also being 'hardened' off and expected to be planted in one to two weeks. Concerns over the cabbage moth, which effect both cabbage and brussels sprouts, have prompted research into prevention methods. The garden may have to be draped with light cloth or fine mesh in the near future, thereby making it the most fashionable garden in the neighborhood.

The most exciting news it the newest hand to get dirty this year. Oskie is old enough to start earning his keep, and enjoying some time throwing dirt around. So far he has been the most enthusiastic helper of the three.

Removing sticks. A vital task to make this garden grow.