How to Make Yogurt

"In ATF we made yogurt...

 "...The first day to make yogurt we poured milk into the pot...

"...Then we heated the milk until it was 180 degrees... 

"...When it was 180 degrees we had to bring it down to 120 degrees.  To do that we put the pot into a pan that was full of ice."

--Alzario, grade 7

"Next we added a little yogurt with living bacteria...

"...Then we covered it with tinfoil and left it overnight at room temperature...

"...The next day we checked to make sure that the bacteria had changed it into yogurt.  Then we strained it with a cheesecloth...

"...Finally, we eat!  The yogurt was amazing.  But it was only good after we added honey and jam!"

--Jamari, grade 6

"We learned that there are good bacteria in the yogurt that eat the milk in yogurt and makes it healthy."  "That is not what I was going to expect."

--Cecil, grade 6; Alzario, grade 7

Believe it or not, growing season is coming soon!

"In ATF we searched on the internet for seeds to plant in our garden.  I looked at a carrot seed.  They have lots of different types.  I picked Bolero pelleted carrots.  Another seed I saw was disk arugula and it was shaped like a disk, which was very weird.  The third seed I looked at was a cherritoe radish, which looked like cherries.  We will start planting seeds in March, but we are shopping for seeds now because they are on sale."
--Jamari, grade 6

"I looked up raspberries.  I think that raspberries are expensive and tasty.  I also looked up mini onions.  I think they are small and sweet-looking.  The last seed I looked up was wheat.  I think wheat is the best.  I love bread!  We're shopping for seeds now so they don't run out.  It's kind of like Black Friday."
--Cecil, grade 6

Braving the cold to repair a compost bin

"Today in ATF we fixed the compost bin that broke when we moved it to a new spot.  First, we had to see which pallet would fit the compost bin we had to fix."

--Cecil, Grade 6

 "We froze our toes off while we made a new compost bin.  We hammered in nails with orange holders to attach the mesh onto the bin.  We also had to lift up different wooden tops with wire mesh to find the right fit for the compost bin."

--Jamari, grade 6

 "We had to put nails into it.  We had to put the parts back together.  Then we finally put the entire thing back together.  I thought it was exciting building the compost bin because I haven't built anything in a while.  It was great.  My dad builds and destroys things in our building so I was used to it already."

--Casimir

 "Today we made a compost bin.  It was freezing cold and I got to use a hammer.  It was like when my mom and I build a bird house.  I feel great.  I wish we could do it again to I can learn to do it again."

--Javion, grade 5

"Last, we went inside with all the tools and warmed up.  I feel that what we did in ATF was very constructive."

--Cecil, grade 6

"We went through blood, cuts, and the cold but we got through the pain and got the job done! Go ATF!"

--Jamari, grade 6

Check out the finished bin.  Nice job ATF!

Planning for our garden

"Today in Agriculture Task Force we discussed what fruits and vegetables we are going to plant in the CJA garden.  This is very cool.  We are going to plant tomatoes, onions, watermelons, and strawberries. MMMMMM!  I discuss the future with my family every day.  I wish we could plant grapes instead of strawberries.  Task Force is cool; I really like it.  It makes me feel like I am helping the earth, my school, and it feels like I am doing things in a less polluted way.  :)"
--Cecil, grade 6

"We looked up new foods to plant because all of our plants are dead.  So we need to re-plant them and I suggested we grow some Jamaican plants and carnivorous plants, but we need a different environment for some of them.  It was awesome doing what we were about to do, and I like helping the environment."
--Casimir, grade 6

"Everyone came up with good ideas to add to the list.  We came up with raspberries, blueberries, and other things.  We'll even try a pineapple.  My aunt is going to start getting her garden ready for he spring, too.  She has a book of seeds and plants and she's writing out a list of things she's going to plant and maybe going to plant.  She's going to plant cucumbers and tomatoes.  I feel this year our garden is going to be the best of all the gardens we've had so far."
--Alzario, grade 7

Some thoughts on CJA's agriculture program

"At CJA we have chickens.  These chickens have been taken care of by Mr. Dwyer and the ATF.  We feed chickens about one bag of chicken feed per week, which costs about $15.  The chickens also lay eggs.  We take the eggs, clean them off, and sell them at our CJA farmers' market.  We recently expanded our chicken run so that they can have more space.  The chickens love their new environment.  The chickens also love Mr. Dwyer."
--Jamari, grade 6

"What I like about ATF is that we help nature.  If people keep deteriorating it, there won't be one left.  We need nature and that's what we're doing: ATF is helping the environment and I like that.  That's why I joined. I like the environment and I want to help save it.  We wouldn't be here without it.  So I wouldn't want to see the day all nature dies, so I help any way possible."
--Casimir, grade 6

"Some of the problems with our food system now is our foods are sometimes processed in factories where they put chemicals and such sort in our foods to make them taste better but sometimes our food goes straight to store stock.  The small food system we have at CJA is a garden with healthy foods like greens, tomatoes, eggplant, etc.  We also have a compost and eggs right from the chicken.  Working with the small food system at CJA will help fix the problems with the food system.  We are not adding anything to make them taste better.  Our food system just harvests and uses or sells at a farmers' market."
--Terrence, grade 6

"Some problems with our food system is that people eat more unhealthy food than healthy food.  They eat unhealthy food because it is cheap.  They don't eat healthy food enough.  They don't eat enough because it is expensive.  We have a small food system at CJA because we grow some of our food.  We get some of our food from our garden, some from our chickens, and some from Gourmet Gorilla.  I'm excited to work with the small food system.  It will help fix the problems with the food system because we can help people learn where the food comes from.  We can persuade people to eat more healthy food and not unhealthy food."
--Rakeem, grade 5

French Onion Soup Sale

CJA French onion soup for sale

Made by CJA students

MAKES A GREAT HOLIDAY GIFT

$5 per jar

All proceeds go to CJA’s agriculture program

Email Mr. Dwyer to reserve your jar!

Coop to Table

"Bon appétit!  Today during Task Force we cooked and ate fried and scrambled eggs.  I was being open to growth.  When we started cooking the eggs we first cracked the egg on the side of the pan second we add our pepper while the egg is cooking.  I made a fried and a scrambled egg.  It was delicious.  We also talked about the food system in task force.  Instead of ordering food that comes from a factory which processes all the food, we just grew and made our own food.  The egg cooking activity was educational.  I didn't know how to make my own eggs.  Now I can make my own breakfast in the morning.  MMMMMMMM!"
--Cecil, grade 6

Eggs start with chickens...

...which Casimir collects...

 ...then we walk inside and crack the eggs... 

...add pinch of salt...

...and a dash of ground pepper...

...scramble if desired...

...then cook in a hot pan coated with olive oil...

...and enjoy!

The clean plate club