Five Great Books to Read Aloud with Kids

The other night, when I tiptoed into Alice's room to check on her, I found her still awake and whispering to her stuffed animals.

"No, Templeton," she scolded. "That is not your slop."

She was acting out Charlotte's Web, and not in a million years would I have told her to go to bed just then.

We started reading the E.B. White classic, a chapter or two a night, about a week ago. I thought Alice might be a little too young for it - not the subject matter (though I am not looking forward to the ending) so much as the number of words and the lack of pictures. There are some pictures, of course. Beautiful ones by Garth Williams, but not a picture for every scene as in most of the books she has been read.

And beyond that, I wasn't sure she was ready to stick with a story that unfolds over days and weeks rather than just a few minutes. This was a book we would have to put down and pick back up night after night, remembering where we left off, and I just didn't know whether it would sustain her interest. But I wanted to give it a try.

So far, she's loving it. It helps that, when her dad reads it, he does all the farm animal voices.

When I bought our copy of Charlotte's Web, the cashier looked at it and said, "Oh, my mom used to read this to me."

I told her I was buying it to read to my daughter, but that I thought it was going to be a a bit of a stretch for her.

"That's OK," she said. "That's how we learn."

Don't you love conversations like that?

Anyway, reading aloud to children - especially before they start school - is heaven. And it has all sorts of developmental and educational benefits besides.

To help us discover even more books to share, I asked Suzy Daveluy, of the Stockton-San Joaquin County Public Library System, to reccommend some great family read-alouds. (The legendary Suzy Daveluy is youth services coordinator for the library, and also oversees literacy, outreach and programming). Here are her picks, in no particular order. All, coincidentally, are available throughout the local library system:

Winnie the Pooh by A.A. Milne
The classic adventures of Pooh Bear, Piglet, Christopher Robin and friends.

Mr Popper's Penguins by Richard and Florence Atwater
Small-town painter Mr. Popper unexpectedly comes to possess a penguin. And then two. And then a dozen. A Newbery Honor book.

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane
Edward Tulane is a china rabbit, given to a 10-year-old girl by her grandmother. After selfish Edward is accidentally lost, he is passed along, from owner to owner, maturing along the way.

The Cricket in Times Square by George Seldon
Chester, a cricket from Connecticut gets caught on a commuter train and ends up in Times Square. Eventually, he reveals an unusual musical talent. A Newbery Honor book.

The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate
The diary of Ivan, a gorilla who has lived in a cage at the mall for 27 years. Winner of the 2013 Newbery Medal.

Five Tips for Reading Aloud to Young Children

Moms and kids create their own books together at a literacy workshop.

A project I am particularly proud to be part of is the Beyond Our Gates Reading by Third initiative, coordinated by University of the Pacific, with support from dozens of local individuals and organizations.

Research shows that the ability to read proficiently by the end of third grade is an important predictor of a child's educational success - kids who aren't strong readers by the time they leave third grade tend to fall behind, and many of them don't catch up. Unfortunately, fewer than half of third graders in our community are reading at grade level.

But we can turn things around.

One of the easiest - and, it must be said, most fun - ways to nurture strong readers is to read aloud to young children every day. Reading aloud help kids build vocabulary, make the connection between letters and words, and, perhaps most importantly, develop a strong bond with the adults in their lives.

For a lot of us, reading aloud feels easy and natural. But, many times, it can seem a little awkward, especially when your child is too young to sit still through a whole story, or even to really understand the words.

To help show parents how and why to read aloud to young children, we launched a series of summer literacy workshops. The project kicked off last week, and in celebration, I thought I'd share five simple tips for reading aloud with little ones (Tips compiled by First 5 San Joaquin):

1. Point to each word as you read so your child makes the connection between words and letters.
2. Read your child's favorite books over and over again.
3. Choose stories with rhyming words and lines that repeat.
4. Discuss new words. For example, "This big house is called a 'palace.' Who do you think lives in a palace?"
5. Stop and ask about the pictures and what is happening in the story.

Books to Prepare for a New Sibling

Hello again.

I hope you will forgive my absence.

I have spent the past few months getting to know sweet Soledad, the newest addition to our family.

She was born in March and is charming as can be - a cuddler from the start. And if, in my whole life, I am never ever lucky again, I still will have had more than my fair share of blessings.

It's hard to believe that just a few months ago, this baby was still a question mark. What would she look like? What would her demeanor be?

What would her big sister think of her?

Of all my pregnancy anxieties - and even the second time around, there were many - worries over how Alice would react to a new sibling had me the most preoccupied.

I'm the oldest of three, and while I am so deeply grateful to have siblings, I still felt guilty to be shaking up my little girl's world.

We tried to make this transition a smooth one by telling Alice what to expect, explaining what it would be like to have a baby in the house. Books turned out to be very helpful (And, of course, Alice is already a real champ of a big sister):

The Baby Sister by Tomie De Paola was our favorite.
A lot of books about new babies speak to the older sibling's worry and frustration about having a rival for mom and dad's time and affection. That's a big deal. But getting ready for baby is also joyful, and this book does a sweet job of celebrating that precious time. Unexpectedly, it also helped prepare Alice for the logistics of baby's arrival - in the story, the main character's mother goes to the hospital for a few days to have the baby while he stays home with Grandma. When it was time for me to go to the hospital, Alice barely shrugged: she knew it was coming and knew I'd be home again soon. (The Baby Sister is available through the Stockton-San Joaquin County Public Library System. Check it out.)

The New Baby by Eloise Wilkin is as simple and soothing as any of the other Little Golden Books you might have read. It meanders through the routines of an infant's day from the perspective of an older sister (who tenderly mothers the doll her dad gave her when he and her mom came home with a real newborn). We have read this one so many times that Alice has it memorized. Listening to her "read" it breaks my heart.

My New Baby, illustrated by Rachel Fuller, was leant to us by friends. It's nicely open-ended with cheerful drawings and simple text designed to encourage conversation about what it's like to have a new baby at home - What do babies eat? Why do they cry? Again, I like that it assumes having a new baby is a happy thing. Because it is.








Do you have any favorite books in the new brother/sister genre? I'd love to hear them.

Baker's Boutique

Sweet Alice celebrated her big third birthday recently, and since we decided not to have a backyard party this year, we wanted to plan something special for her nursery school class.

Last year, on the recommendation of a very smart mama friend, we sent her to school with ladybug cookies from M&W Dutch American Bakery. Adorable.

But this year, she had a taste for something different, so we decided to try mini-cupcakes from Baker's Boutique in the Stone Creek Village shopping center. Alice had a tough time deciding between chocolate and vanilla, so we ordered a dozen of each, topped with buttercream then dipped in hot-pink sanding sugar.

We ordered on a Tuesday and picked up on a Thursday.

At which point we shared this terrible Veruca Salt moment: When the cashier opened the pastry box to show Alice her gorgeous treats, my daughter exclaimed, "I don't want cupcakes!"

Oh, man. Can I explain? Above the cash register at Baker's Boutique is a really beautiful Little Mermaid display cake, and Alice decided, then and there, that that's what she really wanted. Tell me you've been there.

Nonetheless.

She came around quickly. The cupcakes were as delicious - moist and light - as they were pretty, and the kiddos seemed to really enjoy them.

(I should also admit to sampling a couple more cupcakes since then. My favorite is the chocolate BB - it's a chocolate cake, filled and topped with vanilla buttercream, then dipped in chocolate ganache. So tough to resist. Though I really should).

Go to the Baker's Boutique Facebook page for updates on daily flavor selections, and to find out where you might find their mobile cupcake truck.

In the meantime, what do you think is the best cupcake in town? I feel like this is something I should get to the bottom of.

Resources for New Mamas

It's a subject that's been on my mind quite a bit lately, not just because we're getting ready for a new arrival ourselves, but also because it seems like every other family we know has just welcomed one of their own - or is about to any minute now.

Which is exciting! Hooray for babies!

Anyway, even though this is the second time around for us, things are starting to feel a little new and uncertain again, and it's reassuring to have a sense of the resources available locally to newborns and their parents.

Over the summer, I had the opportunity to write a story for Pregnancy & Newborn Magazine on what to expect (and how to survive) the first six weeks postpartum. (Fun fact: At the time I was completing interviews for the story, I was in the very, very early stages of pregnancy - but I wouldn't know it for another few weeks. Good timing right?) The piece was published a couple of months ago, and one of the experts I had the pleasure of speaking to was San Joaquin County-based lactation consultant Ann-Marie Christian.

Ann-Marie had wonderful insight to add to the magazine story, and I hope you'll check it out. But I also want to send you to her blog, Mama Lactivist. Even though it seems she's taking a bit of a break lately, I think you'll find her posts are a great source of information and support for moms and dads.

And for even more resources? First 5 San Joaquin has made "Mommy Care" (prenatal and postpartum health) a special focus for the quarter. Sadly, our community tends to rank poorly when it comes to things like infant mortality and prenatal care - but, as First 5 notes, "there is much we can do to ...  help to ensure that new and expecting mothers receive the best 'mommy care' possible."

Visit the First 5 website for a collection of really useful fact sheets and booklets on things like nutrition, accessing prenatal care, postpartum depression, fathers' roles in child development and other topics.

What are your favorite resources for new babies and their families? I'd love to hear more.

Olympic Reading

Alice was born just before the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, and I remember being kept company many nights by late, late rebroadcasts of the winter events. I have to admit, watching the London games over the past couple of weeks has made be a bit nostalgic.

Alice has been digging the Olympics too - definitely more than I thought she would. She's been especially captivated by the diving and likes to demonstrate her interpretation of various dives on my bed. The best.

So, in the spirit of stretching out the Olympic spirit just a bit longer, I thought I'd put together a little list of Olympics-related picture books. All are available through the Stockton-San Joaquin County Public Library System.

The Mud Flat Olympics
By James Stevenson
(Copies at Chavez Central Library and Tracy Branch Library)
Animals compete in the Deepest Hole Contest, the All-Snail High Hurdles and the River-Cross Freestyle - before enjoying a picnic lunch and ice cream for dessert.

Get Set! Swim
By Jeannine Atkins
(Copies at Chavez Central Library, and the Troke, Tracy, Manteca and Angelou branch libraries)
A young Latina girl learns about teamwork and family pride while competing in her first swim meet.

Boing!
By Sean Taylor
(Copies at Chavez Central Library,  the Mobile Library, and the Tracy, Manteca and Weston Ranch branch libraries)
Five-time World Trampolining Champion the Great Elastic Marvel accidentally flips out of a window in the middle of a deadly difficult stunt.

Ziggy's Blue-Ribbon Day
By Claudia Mills
(Copies at Chavez Central Library, and the Troke, Tracy, Manteca, Escalon, Ripon and Linden branch libraries)
No good at running races, long-jumping or even throwing balls, Ziggy dreads track-and-field day.

Dodsworth in London
By Tim Egan
(Copies at Chavez Central Library and Manteca Branch Library)
Dodsworth and his duck arrive in London on a hot air balloon. But at a crowded bus stop, the duck goes missing.

Rethink Your Drink

A month or so ago, Alice and I were at the grocery store, picking up a few things for a picnic dinner to take to Concerts in the Park.

I stopped in front of a refrigerator case full of boxed juices and asked what she wanted.

"No, Mama," she told me. "No juice. Just agua."

Well. That was humbling.

But encouraging too. It's good to know that she must be hearing some healthy messages at nursery school.

Earlier this week, local advocates launched the Rethink Your Drink campaign, part of a statewide effort that aims to encourage individuals to drink water rather than sugary alternatives such as soda and juice.

According to San Joaquin Health Officer Dr. Karen Furst, a study from University of California, Los Angeles, found that San Joaquin County had the highest percentage of teenage soda consumption in the state, with more than 75 percent of local teens consuming one or more sodas a day.

"Each year, the average California adolescent consumes about 39 pounds of sugar from sugary drinks," local nutritionist Brenna Gorman said in a statement. "Over four years of high school, that adds up to 156 pounds of sugar, and many of them are consuming more than that."

I'm not a big soda drinker, really. But I could definitely do better on the juice front. What about you? Are you trying to be an "agua-only" family?

StocktonHarvest

Although our little front-yard garden is happily producing lots of fresh veggies, we also enjoy the variety and, let's face it, novelty (Rattlesnake beans! Lemon cucumbers!) that come with belonging to a CSA.

And we recently switched to a new one.

For a long time, we were getting regular deliveries from Farm Fresh To You. It's a great organization. Truly, I still recommend them highly. But we wanted to try something a little more local and a little less expensive, so we signed up with StocktonHarvest.

Every Friday, a nifty wooden crate filled with naturally grown produce arrives on our doorstep - more than enough for the three of us, and plenty, I'd say, for a family of four even. It's $15 a week.

I think what I like as much as the food is the mission behind it. StocktonHarvest helps generate income for Boggs Tract Community Farm, where much of the produce is grown, and where neighborhood partners are empowered to improve and advocate for their southwest Stockton community.

For more information, call (209) 430-5300 or email stocktonharvest@gmail.com.

Welcome Baby Basket

Right now, it seems like every other family I know is expecting a baby.

And I couldn't be more thrilled for them. Hooray for babies! Over the past few months, I've become pretty well-practiced, I think, at putting together baby shower gifts that are a happy mix of practical and charming.

Here are a few of my go-to's:

1. Bright receiving blankets: As much as possible, I like to include something handmade in a baby shower gift. It just seems like an extra-sweet expression of love for the growing family. My favorite items to make are receiving blankets, which can be personalized with bright prints or yarns, and tailored to the perfect size and shape for swaddling. And even if you have novice (or no) sewing skills, I promise there is baby-blanket pattern that you can accomplish beautifully. Still not sure? In that case, you can include something that was handmade by other hands, like one of the lovely creations from the Stockton-based CutieSue and Juanita's Family Crafters shops.

2. Beautiful books: Even better if they're chewable books. The Indestructibles line of chew-proof, waterproof and tear-resistant baby books is new to me, and I love them. Designed by a mother of triplets to accommodate the way babies read (with their mouths), the books are super portable and filled with lovely illustrations. Tots and Teapots on the Miracle Mile has a large selection.

3. A cozy romper: The parents-to-be, especially if they're first-timers, will no doubt receive a mountain of adorable baby clothes. (Who can resist buying those teensy socks and onesies.) I say, go ahead and add to the pile - but maybe with something a little special like this cotton-and-cashmere nautical romper by Bees & Dragons. Again, I found it at Tots & Teapots. (By the way, I don't hear it too often anymore, but in case you know someone who is discouraged that it's easier to find cute clothes for girls than for boys, Tots & Teapots is a great place to send them.)

P.S. from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. this Thursday (July 12), Miracle Mile shops are celebrating Mommy's Night Out. Enjoy discounts on meals, wine(!), clothing and more. 

Do you have any favorite baby gifts or baby-gift sources? I'd love to hear about them.

Free Story Times at the Public Library

One of the first places I took Alice - after she was big enough to really take anywhere - was to  baby/toddler story time at the Chavez Central Library. We sat in the back, sang some "Old MacDonald," and listened to a reading of "Joseph Had a Little Overcoat." (Such a fun book. Now that I'm thinking about it, Alice hasn't seen it since that first time - We'll have to borrow it soon - I bet she'd love it now).

I still try to take her to story times as often as possible. We read a ton at home, but hearing new stories, read by new voices is really good for both of us, I think. Enjoying a book with her - alongside her as part of an audience - is special in a way that's different from reading to her at home (Which is precious too, of course. Just another kind).

Fortunately, there's a library story time somewhere in San Joaquin County almost every day of the week. Generally, each one lasts about 30 minutes and might include stories, songs, poetry and other activities. In my experience each story time sort of has its own character. (HA!) So I say, make the rounds, if you can, and figure out which one(s) your kiddos like best.

Monday
10:30 a.m. - All About Baby Story Time at Mountain House Library
11 a.m. - Preschool Story Time at Mountain House Library
6 p.m. - Family Story Time at Tracy Library

Tuesday
10 a.m. - All About Baby Story Time at Manteca Library
10:15 a.m. - Toddler and Preschool Story Time at Margaret Troke Library
10:30 a.m. - Preschool Story Time at Ripon Library
10:30 a.m. - All About Baby Story Time at Tracy Library
11:15 a.m. - Preschool Story Time at Tracy Library

Thursday
10:30 a.m. - Preschool Story Time at Cesar Chavez Central Library
10:30 a.m. - Preschool Story Time at Manteca Library
10:30 a.m. - All About Baby Story Time at Ripon Library
12:15 p.m. - Preschool Power Story Time at Margaret Troke Library

Friday
1 p.m. - All Ages Story Time at Thornton Library (Just through July)

Saturday
10:30 a.m. - Preschool Story Time at Linden Library (Only on some Saturdays - check the online calendar for more details).


Also, if you happen to live in Lodi, you know that your public library is independent of the Stockton-San Joaquin County system. I'll go out on a limb and say that you're still welcome to attend story times at the county branches, of course. But in case you're looking for something closer to home, find a schedule here.

The End of the Cherry Season

In May, when the cherries ripen north and east of Stockton, workers arrive in vans and pickup trucks, pitch tents within the orchards, and live under the trees until the harvest is over just a few frenzied weeks later.

I never really cared for cherries before we moved here.

Now cherries – and the people who grow and pick them – are tied inextricably to my idea of spring.

“It’s May,” I think at the start of the season. “I wonder if they’re here yet.”

I met the Bravo and Gutierrez families about four years ago. They come from Atecucario, a very small village in Michoacan, Mexico. They leave their homes in February and travel to Ventura to pick strawberries. From there, they move up to Stockton, then on to the Pacific Northwest.

During the harvest months, their village is mostly empty. “A lot of old women and babies,” Olga Bravo said when Alice and I stopped at the orchard for a visit. The work had slowed by then, and the families were preparing to leave for the year.

We talked in the shade as dinner cooked on camp stoves and over campfires dug between the trees.

Alice loves cherries. She would eat cherries for days if I didn’t cut her off.

“Do you like them with salt?” Olga asked me as we were saying goodbye. I wrinkled my nose. “It’s delicious,” she insisted.

“Get the cherries cold, almost frozen, then sprinkle them with a little salt, a little chili, a little lemon juice. Try it.”

Maybe next year. This time, we tried cherry scones instead.

Summer Reading

A few days ago, I  took Alice to the Chavez Central Library to clear our fines (whoops) and to sign her up for this year's Summer Reading Program.

I confess it had been a while since she last visited the library - and this time, she was old enough to better understand what it's all about. What fun to see her so thrilled by all those books! I almost couldn't keep up.

To participate in the Summer Reading Program, go to any branch and pick up a reading log. It looks a little like a bingo card with boxes to check off as activities - things like "Attend a Library Program" and "Read or Share a Folk or Fairytale" -  are completed.

This week, we're working on "Read or Share a Book by an Author You Have Not Read Before" (Gunilla Bergstrom), and we're planning to go back to the Chavez branch to see the Fratello Marionettes.

Once six square are completed, we're eligible for a special "halfway prize," and when we've worked our way through all 12 boxes, we can return our reading log in exchange for a free book. Hooray!

(There are also summer programs for teens and adults).

Don't have a library card yet? Darn. But don't worry! It's free and pretty easy to get one - visit your library with a valid ID and proof of home address to get started.

Voting Day

KELLOG'S KID, Boy Scout, from the Gallery of the Haggin Museum Leyendecker Collection.

Are you going to vote in today's primary election? Did you already return an absentee ballot? (For help finding your polling place, check with the Registrar of Voters).

Earlier this spring, in a story for San Joaquin Woman Magazine, I talked to some elected officials who happen to be parents (Or is it parents who happen to be elected officials?), about their advice for raising future voters.

Elections like today's, they said, give parents an opportunity to show kids what active citizenship looks like: Talk about the issues you read about in the newspaper. Review the sample ballot as a family. Go to the polling station together.

Another fun way to introduce kids to the democratic process is through children's books, suggests Suzy Daveluy, youth services coordinator for the Stockton-San Joaquin County Public Library system. These were some of her recommendations:

So You Want to be President, by Judith St. George
(Available at Chavez, Troke, Tracy, Manteca, Angelou, Escalon, Thornton, Linden, Weston Ranch and the Mobile Library)
"This book presents many unknown facts about the American presidents," Suzy says, "and it might inspire young readers to seek the highest office in our nation."

Duck for President, by Doreen Cronin
(Available at Chavez, Mountain House, Troke, Manteca, Ripon and the Mobile Library)
"This whimsical picture book takes us along Duck's rise to political stardom - fro head of the farm to President of the United States! Duck enters politics to make a change, but soon discovers how difficult political life can be."

LaRue for Mayor: Letters from the Campaign Trail, by Mark Teague
(Available at Chavez, Troke, Tracy, Manteca and Ripon)
"This picture book stars Ike LaRue, a dog who decides that the anti-dog campaigning of mayoral candidate, Chief Bugwort, must be stopped. An inspiring ending.






America Votes: How Our President is Elected, by Linda Granfield
(Available at Chavez and Manteca)
"This non-fiction book for elementary-age students gives a very thorough overview of the political process - from suffrage rights to the duties of the president. A glossary defines important terms."

Mourning Doves Nesting

A few weeks ago I came home from work to find a pair of mourning doves resting on the fence that separates our yard from the neighbors'.

They cooed and ruffled their feathers a little as I came nearer, but they didn't fly away.

When, several hours later, they still hadn't moved, I worried that something might be wrong. That maybe they were sick. I guess I don't really know how it is with birds.

The next day they were gone - but not far, perched this time on some wires strung just above the neighborhood rooftops.

And a few days after that, we found their nest in our apricot tree.

A good spot, I'd say. Fairly secluded. Plenty of food.

It is the female bird that builds the nest, stitching it loosely together out of twigs and grass that the male brings her.

They take turns incubating their clutch.

"A mama bird," we told Alice, pointing into the branches. "What do you think she is sitting on?"

Sits on eggs.

"What's inside the eggs?"

Baby birds.

And, silly as it sounds, it's reassuring, in a way, to know that creatures guided by instinct - driven by something stronger and steadier than will or whimsy - chose to land here.

Food in the Front Yard Project: Part 3

One of my earliest childhood memories is of eating sugar snap peas off a creeping vine in the backyard while my dad watered and pulled weeds.

As far as earliest memories go, I think that’s a pretty good one.

And really, what finally convinced me that we should go ahead and replace a big section of the front lawn with an edible garden was the thought of Alice spending time there.  

We planted her some sugar snap peas.

It’s not quite finished – we need to trellis the peas and tomatoes, and we want to plant a small tree in the middle of the boxes – but I love how the garden is turning out.

In thinking about our spring planting, we were very fortunate to have expert-gardener friends to turn to: They made sure we knew what to plant where and when – and they also had really helpful insight on some of the more cosmetic considerations I wanted to pay attention to. What plants look attractive together? How can we add some depth and height variation?

(Not everyone’s lucky enough to have expert-gardener friends, I know. If you don’t, Master Gardeners are an excellent resource, as is the Cooperative Extension as a whole. Nursery employees too, especially at independent businesses, are great at answering questions and offering advice).

In addition to the peas, we’ve filled one planter box with tomatoes and bell peppers, another with blueberries and one with strawberries. We were looking for fruits and veggies we would enjoy eating, and that Alice would recognize and want to care for.

Strawberries are particularly fantastic because they’re delicious, kid-friendly and evergreen. And what’s more cheerful than a strawberry blossom?

It took a few years for me to be convinced, but we've decided to grow an edible garden in the front yard. Here's how we're doing it.

This week: The spring plants

(Read more in Part 1 and Part 2).

Food in the Front Yard Project: Part 2

It took a few years for me to be convinced, but we finally decided to replace a big section of the front lawn with an edible garden. Here's how we're doing it.

This week: planter boxes.

(Read about how we came to this decision and got rid of the grass in Part 1).

I had been pretty worried about whether a vegetable garden in the front yard would look nice, and not until I saw our finished planter boxes did I really believe it could.

We built ours out of redwood, which is beautiful - and more importantly, naturally rot resistant. Cedar is too, and in fact, when we were researching how to put this garden together, cedar was the wood most often recommended. But redwood was less expensive and easier to find. Ours came from a lumber yard, which had a better selection than the home-improvement stores we visited.

Once we figured out how many boxes we wanted (four) and what size they were going to be (roughly 3 feet-by-5 feet) my husband drew up some plans and put them together in the garage.

We have basic carpentry tools, and he's comfortable using them. If you don't or aren't, there are lots of places that sell attractive planter kits requiring minimal assembly - we nearly bought some ourselves. (And throughout the process, I kept remembering a container garden my grandmother once made out of a few cast-off toilets. Options abound.)

Before putting the planters into place, there was still one more preparation step to finish: Back where the grass used to be, we marked off spaces for the boxes, then covered the rest of the dirt with landscape fabric to help prevent weed and grass growth.

Then we put the planters down, spent a lot of time checking that they were evenly spaced, and filled them with soil. After that, we covered the landscape fabric with rock.

Besides the redwood, dirt and rock were easily our most significant expenses. Because we needed so much of both, we opted to have it all delivered from Allen's Valley Loam. Definitely cheaper and more convenient than trying to purchase by the bag.

Next week: Spring plants

Food in the Front Yard Project - Part 1

We bought our house a little more than three years ago, and for about that long, my husband has been trying to talk me into replacing the grass in the front yard with an edible garden.

I've been a holdout.

It's not that I'm a lawn enthusiast, but I am sort of biased in favor of pretty spaces.

Which is not to say that our front yard was winning any landscaping awards. But it was good enough, you know? And I had a hard time giving up good-enough grass for a garden I could only envision as rustic. At best.

So we eased in. When a patch of lawn turned brown and weedy last summer, we built a modest raised bed on top of the dead spot and planted blueberries there. Blueberries are lovely. And watching them come back to life over the past several weeks got me thinking about how living where food grows is one of the best parts of living where we live. And growing plants, I started to remember, can be a pretty fantastic part of a childhood.

I was willing to give it a try. A few days later, my husband had marked off of about a third of our front yard and we started digging.

There are at least a few ways to get rid of grass. You can smother it with tarps or straw, for example. Or, plenty of people use on Round-Up.

But in the end, shovels - while more exhausting than you'd expect- seemed like our best choice for quick results without a lot of chemicals.

Alice had the very important job of shaking loose soil off of old clods of lawn.

Those aren't freckles on her nose. They're flecks of dirt.

It took a whole day to clear the area. (I can take credit for almost none of the labor). The bummer period of our landscape project.

Fortunately, these guys were waiting out back.

Next week: planter boxes.