Living Sky Foundation Presents Project Pledge

On April 27 and 28 Hearthstone School hosted a gathering of artists, musicians, students, and teachers for the illustration of a new world pledge. The pledge known as " Earth Allegiance" was created to celebrate a global allegiance and draw attention to the unity of all living creatures on earth. The focus of the mural was to draw attention to all the endangered species on our planet and the urgent need of protection for our fragile habitats.

In celebration of the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, as well as the 40th anniversary of Rappahanannock League for Environmental Protection (RLEP), students from Hearthstone School and Belle Meade School in Rappahannock County, Virginia united for a two day collaboration and creation to illustrate a mural for a new "Earth Allegiance" pledge. The students researched some of the over 500 locally endangered creatures from information gathered from the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries "Wildlife Action Plan". The students also included some of the endangered plants native to our area that they had learned about in their botany class. The group then discussed, sketched, and painted the images from what they learned, ultimately creating a beautiful mural and canvas rug. The entire project was initiated and supported by Cherl Crews, Director of the Living Sky Foundation who commissioned the assistance of Tim and Constance Friesen of AVECARTS (Arts Vitally Enrich Communities). Connie and Tim are a professional artist team who traveled from their home in Wisconsin and who's direction, organization, and artistry made this mural possible. While painting and collaborating Frances Miller, Hearthstone music teacher, facilitated beautiful music for the group to enjoy. Students and others joined in drumming and singing throughout the day.

The ultimate vision for the pledge is for other schools and communities to come together for the common good of art, community, and preserving our planet. The mural created today could be used as a templet for other schools or groups to illustrate their own mural with species not only native but also endangered in their own backyards. For more information please visit livingsky.org

A special thanks goes out to: the talented artists and facilitators Tim and Constance Friesen from Arts Vitally Enrich Communities, Cherl Crews of the Living Sky Foundation, local artist Davette Leonard, the students and teachers of Hearthstone School, local artist Monica Newell, students from Belle Meade School, musician & Hearthstone teacher Frances Miller, and the Rappahannock League of Environmental Protection.

Project Pledge

I pledge allegiance to the earth

Of our beloved solar system

And to all of her creatures for here they dwell

One planet united in harmony

With universal love and compassion for all.

Botany Field Trip to Sacred Plant Traditions

Ms. Liz's class traveled to Charlottesville, Virginia on Monday April 26 to visit Kathleen Maier at Sacred Plant Traditions, an herbal medicine school. Kathleen is a former Rappahannock County resident, who has studied plant medicines for years. She has an herbal medicine school in Charlottesville, the school draws speakers, botanists, herbalists, and other talented people in the plant world to speak at special events and classes throughout the year. Kathleen and her staff teach classes on fermentation, gardening, medicine, women's interests, and herbalist programs.

We were lucky enough to borrow some of Kathleen's time to learn about her gardens, school, and apothecary. The students curiosity was ignited from the visit. The fact that the very ground we walk on holds medicines to cure us amazed them. Common plants such as the plantain and ground ivy are not so common any more. These plants are medicine. The more love and care we give to these plants the more we will receive, it is a universal law, and plants are not exempt.

Earth Day at Hearthstone

We had a busy Earth Day this year! We started off the day in the garden, at the vernal pond Ms. Tamara and the high schoolers spearheaded. The pond is located in our wetland area in the gardens. The hole was dug by a back-hoe and is now a permanent pond. It currently has hundreds of wood frog tadpoles residing in the pond. We hope that salamanders and other wetland creatures find the vernal pond as a home and a safe place to lay eggs, etc. The first few hours of Earth Day we planted black willows, alder trees, dogwoods, marsh hibiscus, cardinal flowers, black-eyed susan's, milkweed, boneset, and sedge around the vernal pond; all of which are native plants that will thrive in the wetland area we have helped develop.

Next we loaded up the van and headed out to Old Hollow Rd. A few miles from Hearthstone School. There we picked up trash along the roadside until lunch. The road was strewn with old beer cans and soda bottles, but after we left the sides of the road seemed much more green and happy!

After lunch and a bit of recess we all met in the community room for the presentation of the students' science fair projects. Each year for the past three years the students have been asked to conduct a science fair project based on sustainability, recycling, energy alternatives, endangered species, wildlife, plants, etc. The science fair is held on Earth Day every year. This year the projects ranged from "How to Make Bio-Diesel" to "The Gray Wolf".

Springtime Projects in Woodworking Class

Some of the various projects currently being completed in woodworking class include: a decorative snake, two benches, an "egg", a spoon, a table, and a karate bow. Below are some pictures of the students at work!

Jasper Found Jasper!

On our mushroom hunting trip to Little Devil's Stairs one of Ms. Liz's students, named Jasper, found a nice hunk of red jasper. According to Dave, Ms. Liz's husband and geologist, this is a very rare find for the area we were hiking! Great find Jasper!!!

Botany Block - Fungus: Hunting for the Elusive Morchella

Mr. Aron's class along with Ms. Liz's class took a morning field trip out to the base of Little Devil's Stairs to go mushroom hunting.

It was a cool and cloudy morning in early April. We were prepared with lessons on fungi, a long talk on the dangers of mushrooms, bags for our morels, and hiking boots. We were determined to collect some edible mushrooms that early spring morning.

After about five minutes of searching Mr. Aron found the first morel, a small white morel, hidden among decaying leaves in moist soil. Later Ms. Liz and class found a little patch of black morels. All in all we found around nine morels that morning before heading back to Hearthstone School.

When we returned to school that morning Ms. Liz took the mushrooms to the Lower School kitchen and soaked the morels in salt water for a couple hours, so that the bugs and dirt would fall from the little honey-comb shaped mushrooms. Then she rinsed them and stored them in a paper towel in the refrigerator until we were to cook and eat them.

The next day for morning snack we went to the Lower School kitchen to cook the morels. First we cut the morels in half long ways, next we put them in a pan with a little butter and Spike, and last but not least we all immensely enjoyed a very yummy snack.

Easter Egg Hunt at the Lower School

Botany Study Begins: Sketching on the Hazel River

Ms. Liz's class just began a unit study of botany. On Friday the class took a trip to Hazel River to search for lichen, moss, flowers, ferns, coniferous trees, and fungi. We found many excellent examples in the woods that day.

The children were given an objective to accomplish before we left school. The children were to find one of the plants we discussed in class on the trail up the Hazel River. Once they found their plant they were to sit and sketch the plant, while paying attention to where the plant was located, including the background with special attention to light and darkness.

Each child found their plant and each child made beautiful sketches of each. We will continue to work on these sketches, while researching each plant.

What a HOOT! ~ Felted Wool Owls

In crafts class this past March the students made wool owls with Tami Ruggiero, parent and craftswoman extraordinaire!

The wool the children used for their owls was all natural, sheared from Tami's in-law's sheep. The kids started off with a mound of wool and a felting needle each, and slowly beautiful owls began to take shape.

Check out the hard work the kids did, and these BEAUTIFUL owls they created.