Lower East Side Ecology Center

P and his pals adore this tree.

Oh but I'm behind!

Over a week ago, we went to our favorite East Village community garden for a worm composting workshop hosted by the Lower East Side Ecology Center. While P is already a worm composting pro , a lot of his buddies would be there, and there would be, gasp, planting! So we were so there :)



He bored quickly of the worm chat (the kid knows too much about worms to want for more red wiggler info:) and we walked around the gorgeous garden, rubbing and smelling leaves. Then the child remembered there was a gourd last fall that he had really wanted to harvest this spring. We made a human ladder to reach the big bugger and he carefully carried his huge treasure for the rest of the day, hugging it often. And while it is a gorgeous gourd, his passion for collecting may be the end of me. Were we in a sprawling farmhouse with outhouses and attics, cellars and storage areas, I too would be bringing home every pretty rock and rusty piece of metal in my path. I understand the collecting thing, the child comes by it genetically. But, seriously, our flat is full.



After that, he ran with his pals, played in the bushes and trees and, of course, collected petals. Following this was one of those lovely New York afternoons when wandering with friends lands you right where you need to be, over and over. First was his first trip to PommesFrites, for some fried fuel, followed by a magical meandering towards Union Square. We found a musician setting up a chalk stage and the kids danced in the wind and drew on the ground, giving the music man a grand stage of dragons and animals. Eventually, we landed at the playground for some serious slide time.... and then P crashed. Super short on sleep from the night before, his eyes glazed over and he was ready. to. go. So we laid in the nearby grass and read some Paddington Bear, smelling spring and feeling happy :)

And today, the wheat we planted that day broke through the soil!