Before early retirement I finished my MS in 'Ecological Teaching and learning' at Lesley University in Cambridge, Mass. Aside from course work during the school year, we had two summer residencies. The first studying bioregional ecology in what is known as Down East Maine. The second summer was spent studying Urban Ecology in Boston with an emphasis on the interactions between human and man-made systems. It was that summer I realized that Parks, gardens and greenery are the soul of our cities. Without these samples of what could be, children would never be allowed to develop an ecological identity or a deep-rooted love of all life. My focus in research was actually the decline of the Monarch Butterfly written in 1999. With that in the forefront of all my thinking, I came across many and varied gardens, even the original Victory gardens. To the point. In that cities, also known as Hot Islands, have a longer growing season than the outlying rural areas. I found that they had garden spots growing organic, fresh produce for jails, schools, Senior Centers, day care centers and on and on. So I realized one did not have to live on Beacon hill to get fresh, wholesome vegetables. Bostonians are a dying breed. The little spaces used for gardening were as varied as the volunteers that would lean on rakes during 'Happy Hour' to school children and people that were incarcerated on the Drumlins in Boston Bay. The moral to this story, "Teach Your Children Well". C.S.N. Department. circa 1968. Becoming a Master Gardener is my goal for the last 25 years of my life and spread the seeds!

Highlights:

• Bostonians
• Hot Islands
• Tsunami Science Teacher
• drumlins
• Children's Health
• Food
• Glorious
• Food!