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History-made harvest

Homeschooled kids learned how to prepare soil and planted seeds at "Bringing in the Harvest" in Largo.

By JANE MADDEN WELCH
Published October 25, 2005

LARGO - When a 9-year-old says she's having so much fun she can't stop, you would hardly expect the activity in question to be hoeing a garden in 89-degree heat.

But that was exactly what Miranda Reyes was doing Thursday as she helped prepare the soil for planting acorn squash. Miranda was joined by other children participating in an afternoon activity at Heritage Village in Largo.

Thursday's program was the second of four two-hour sessions that comprise the new Homeschool History Adventures program, which began in September.

Eighteen homeschooled children and several of their parents followed instructors Dan Marshall and Shawna Koder through the two-hour session called "Bringing in the Harvest," stopping first at the Moore grove house, one of 28 historic structures set in the native pine and palmetto landscape.

Marshall and Koder helped the children make juice by hand from Persian and Key limes; plant Seminole pumpkin plants and acorn squash seeds; and create squirrel and bird feeders from pine cones, peanut butter, seeds and corn.

They harvested 3-foot cotton plants, while Koder explained how the pioneers used every part of the plant to make clothing, cottonseed oil and animal feed.

"One of the main reasons that we decided to do a homeschooling program is to help develop and diversify our audience," said Tracy Spikes, curator of education at Heritage Village. "We have a whole range of programs for students that homeschooled kids can take advantage of."

LaWanda Sutherland of Plant City is the director of the Florida Parent-Educator Association, District 5, which includes Citrus, Hernando, Hillsborough, Pasco, and Pinellas counties. She said about 50,000 kids are homeschooled in Florida.

"The numbers are definitely increasing," she said. "More parents are saying we want to take charge of our children's education."

Pinellas County has a very active support group for homeschooling, she said.

John Lash, coordinator of partnership schools and child care programs in Pinellas, said 2,571 homeschooled children are registered with the school district, about 2 percent of the school age population.

Lash said he has seen a small increase in the number of homeschooled children in the 6 years he has been coordinator.

"It seems like technology has made it easier for parents to do homeschooling because of all the resources available online," he said.

"I've been wanting to try homeschooling for a number of years," said Jill Shelby of Palm Harbor, who brought her three daughters to "Bringing in the Harvest." She said she homeschooled to ensure her children weren't exposed to information she felt was inappropriate.

"I want them to stay kids as long as possible," she said.

Alice and Roger Bradley of Dunedin have five children, ages 2 to 13, whom Alice Bradley homeschools with help from her husband, who teaches them algebra and Latin. She brought the children to "Bringing in the Harvest."

"We do hands-on activities as well as core curriculum," she said. "We want to teach them things we want them to learn."

Their oldest child, Charlotte, enjoyed the program so much she hopes to return next month to see if the pumpkin she planted grew.

"It might be kind of fun to live in the old days," said Charlotte, pondering the notion of growing one's own food. "I would miss air conditioning, though."

The Shelbys and Bradleys plan to return to next month for the third session in History Adventures, called "Victorian Etiquette."

"They love it," said Jill Shelby. "They've been asking, "When do we get to come back?' ever since the first one."

[Last modified October 25, 2005, 03:00:29]