Introduction - Why I chose a blog

I have decided that my Commonplace Book will take the form of an online blog.  I feel that since this class is focused on ecological pedagogy I should try to be as environmentally friendly as possible.  Last term I was able to go completely paperless except for when I had to physically hand something in.  I plan to be as paperless as possible in my pedagogical practices.  I do realize that this means I will be relying on technology a lot and I do realize that this also comes with an environmental impact.  Petroleum products in the plastic casing, PVC covered wires, Batteries, and a reliance on electric power supply.

All that being said, I am not throwing my computer away.  I have had this computer for over 8 years.  That is long for computer life.  I did have a catastrophic failure of the hard drive 4 years ago but I didn't throw the whole computer away, I replaced the hard drive because it was the only part that needed replacing.  I am not buying binders to put my notes in and a shelf to store the binders on, because I am not printing anything off.  I have all my class notes filed in virtual files on my computer.  I realize eventually I will have to print off lesson plans and course syllabuses, but for now I feel that the work required for this class can be done in a paperless manor.

As a side project for this class I will be photo documenting my garden.  It has been a hard fought battle to reclaim a little garden space from the 48 year old grass in my parents front yard.  My mom is all for ripping out all of the grass and making a huge garden.  My dad is fighting that idea tooth and nail.  He does not like change.  Our "compromise" is a small section added onto an existing flower bed. 

I want to grow the food that I eat, and I want to teach my kid how to as well.  I hope that some of the seeds that we planted grow, however it is obvious that the soil under the grass is depleted from nutrients and even after compost and peat moss has been added to it is still feeling like clumpy clay.  It will take a couple of years to restore the soil to its optimum growing potential, but that is OK.  It is a process. 

As the garden grows, I hope my understanding of the critical perspectives in education grow as well.