Collecting Sagebrush Seed at Dierkes Lake

In November, Liberty Homeschool held a service project/field trip at Dierkes lake to help collect sagebrush seed for restoring burn areas in Idaho and Nevada. Our local friendly forest ranger taught us proper harvesting techniques and organized the effort. It was quite cold in the beginning but turned out to be a beautiful day to be out and about, enjoying the Southern Idaho desert we live in. Our group succeeded in collecting 10 lbs. of seed before the kids took off to play and explore.

The girls working diligently to fill their hoop with seeds....
Having some fun with our homeschool pals....
Discovering the local flora....
Afterwards, there was hot chocolate and cookies for all the volunteers. This has become an fun annual tradition so we hope you can join us next year!

CSI Field Trip

In October the Magic Valley Home Educators group coordinated a great field trip to the CSI Ag. Department! There were many activities for families to choose from. There were huge draft horses for the kids to ride....












Goats to be milked...
A wagon ride to that took us on a tour of the wetlands project....
and fun at the corn maze...
A big thank you to the CSI Ag. department and the homeschooling mothers who helped coordinate this trip! You put together a very memorable day.

Author visit

This month we enjoyed a visit from a local Christian author, Maja Ledgerwood (see her website at http://majaledgerwood.com/ ). Maja discussed her experience publishing her first children's book "Pocahontas: Princess of Faith and Courage" and read her book aloud to the group. Afterwards, the kids participated in a writing exercise and played at the park. The beautiful weather was a real blessing!

Soccer!

Homeschool soccer has started! If you would like to join us, we play at the Ascension Field on Eastland Rd. at 2:00 every Tuesday.

Choke Cherry Collection in the South Hills

The field trip to South Hills for choke cherry collection was lots of fun for the families able to make it! Besides picking berries, we had a picnic and the kids climbed trees and played in the creek.
The ranger informed our group that the seeds collected will be propagated at the Lucky Peak laboratory and used to restore riparian areas that have been overgrazed or camped on too much. Chokecherries make an excellent habitat and food source for all kinds of birds.

In late November we will be collecting sage brush seed at Dierkes Lake. The seed will be used to help restore burned areas throughout Idaho. Watch the Liberty Homeschool Calendar for details!

First post for Liberty Homeschool Blog

I hope that this can be a place for us to share photos and updates of our Liberty Homeschool activities. I would like to enlist the help of any moms or kids that are interested in writing or adding pictures. You can do it from your home computer and it's really not hard at all! Just look at my total lack of formatting skills and you'll realize that any contributions will be happily accepted.


This first post is of our group getting together for lunch and water fun at my house this past week. Kids of all ages had a great time playing in the kiddie pools, on the trampoline, and even up in the tree house. Wild water gun battles were fought and hopefully many friendships were made. I know I am always grateful for the opportunity to visit with other homeschooling mothers because there is such a common bond shared! Summer afternoons spent with friends are such a treat.....