Rudolf Steiner

Forest Aftercare at Waldorf

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The Forest Aftercare program at the Waldorf School of Baltimore is an important facet to our school community. At Waldorf, we recognize that today’s children are not spending as much time in natural environments as former generations. Our Forest Aftercare program is designed to provide a safe space for children to cultivate a deep bond with the more-than-human world.

Students enrolled in the Forest Aftercare program spend most of their time in the forest surrounding our school. Free play, gardening, animal husbandry, and exploration of the forest are key aspects of our program. We are outside everyday – rain, snow, or shine!

Forest Aftercare Staff prepare students to become empowered, responsible environmental stewards. Our playground is a certified Wildlife Habitat, with food, shelter, and water sources for indigenous species. We have been awarded a Baltimore City Master Gardener’s Outstanding School Garden Award.

forestaftercarebannerStay connected to what’s happening in our Ecoliteracy & Sustainability programs here, at sustainablewaldorf.com.

#exploreWaldorf

 

Spring 2014: 3rd Grade Farm Trip PART 1

/ Lehcim Nosredna / Leave a comment

Happy Earth Day!
For over 35 years, the Waldorf School of Baltimore has been sending their 3rd grade class to Hawthorne Valley Farm for a week-long trip that deepens their sense of independence and understanding of life and the food system. This week, Mrs. Jerram’s 3rd grade is in the midst of this life changing experience and is busy working and playing hard from dawn to dusk. Thus far, our students have been engaged in activities ranging from horseback riding to baking sourdough bread…and they still have 2 more full days to go!  Please enjoy the photographs below (and, parents, please know that even though the photos are full of wide eyes and bright smiles, your children miss you…really they do. 🙂 )

Farm Tour
The Master Schedule
Yogert Making
Bread Making
Sourdough Bread!
Making Desert

Future Bee: A Biodynamic Beekeeping Workshop in Maryland

/ Lehcim Nosredna / Leave a comment

The following information is for an exciting natural & biodynamic beekeeping workshop happening in Maryland. It’s coordinated by the Chesapeake BioDynamic Network in affiliation with the Biodynamic Farming & Gardening Association. Unfortunately I can not attend all of the workshops, but I will be making a noble attempt to attend some — care to join me?

FUTURE BEE: A Natural & Biodynamic Approach to Beekeeping
Led by Dan & Jeri Hemerlein, & Bill Castrobig-bee-goddess_bm_gr18604-1234

Join us in learning a reverence for the hive and how we can support healthy, chemical free honey bee colonies.
Dan & Jeri are MD beekeepers & graduates of Gunther Hauk’s “Sustainable Biodynamic Beekeeping Training” at Spikenard Farm. Bill is a long time urban & treatment free beekeeper, owner and steward of Bee Friendly Apiary based in Baltimore, MD.

:::COURSE INFORMATION:::
WHERE: 4221 Metzerott Rd, College Park, MD 20740 (The Christian Community Social Room)
WHEN: SATURDAY’S February 1st, 8th, & 22nd; March 1st, 22nd; April 12th *Dates subject to change
TIME: 8:30 AM – 10:30 AM
HOW MUCH: $45 for 6 class series,(Single/Family) including a “package hiving demonstration” – $10 Drop In
TO REGISTER: Show up @ 8:00 AM!
QUESTIONS?
Dan & Jeri Hemerlein: BeeHemerlein@gmail.com– (410) 808-9298
Michael Judge: Mjudge2000@gmail.com
Bill Castro: Billiam1969@BeeFriendlyApiary.com– (303) 877-4617

 

Middle School Lime Kiln Project

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Last Wednesday, our 6th & 7th Grade came together during main lesson to build a primitive lime kiln. In Waldorf Schools a kiln is typically built during the Inorganic Chemistry block to demonstrate the archetypal chemical process of transforming calcium carbonate into quicklime. The experiment requires that calcium carbonate (substances such as limestone, marble, sea shells, & chalk) are burned in a kiln where the temperature reaches above 1800°F.  Limestone is a unique mineral because it’s derived from the animal kingdom, and the process of burning it is very similar to those used to make lime mortar, which is a building material, and lime milk, which is used in fresco paintings. We used marble in our kiln — marble is limestone that has been subjected to heat and pressure, causing it to become recrystallized. To build our kiln we dug out a foundation, leveled it, and stacked fire stone bricks. The kiln is built to burn all day & night, and in the morning the materials placed should be transformed. Although I have no photographic evidence of the transformation, I’m happy to report that the kiln was a success — the students were even able to add sand to the quicklime to slake it and make a mortar. For deeper insights, I encourage you could ask any of our middle school students for an elaborate explanation.

WSB’s New Willow Tunnel

/ Lehcim Nosredna / Leave a comment

It’s warming up fast around here! And green buds are wildly popping out of our new Willow Tunnel. If you haven’t already see it, please do stop by — it’s near the school garden. The tunnel was a generous gift of the Bartolomeo Family, and it will be beautifying our grounds for many years to come. Check out these photos of it’s construction on April 20, 2013: