One of the incredible joys of homeschooling is developing our curriculum around the bounty and richness of our local environment. That came in one of its most fruitful forms (literally and figuratively) this past fall when we became CSA members at Amber Waves Farm in Amagansett. To avoid the traffic of summer tourism and take advantage of the beloved vegetables that do so well in the autumn soil, we signed up for the Labor Day-Thanksgiving farm share. (In making a day of the trip, it also provided a chance to enjoy our beloved nearby Montauk off-season).

Amber Waves founders Katie & Amanda are a force of nature and for good as they collaborate with the local community on a range of environmental, educational and humanistic goals. In addition to the obvious function of raising great organic produce and providing local jobs, they donate to the Springs food pantry and provide remarkably affordable educational workshops.

As CSA members, we received a large weekly box of fresh produce (and in a world before coronavirus, U-pick privileges). The boxes are generous, and the vegetables easily covered our family's needs for over a week. It was a truly magical experience making our weekly trip to the farm to pick up our produce, interact with the gracious and welcoming staff, pick a fresh flower bouquet, amble about the grounds, and wave to the passing LIRR train.  They do a pretty great job of washing the produce, but certainly you will want to wash it again thoroughly when you get it home.

Being a CSA member at a local farm enables farmers to finance and plan for the season ahead, and this includes hiring. As we all know, real estate is a huge financial burden for local businesses, particularly our farmers and winemakers who need ample land. Signing up for a farm share is a tangible way we can keep our farmers on the Island and keep that fresh, affordable and delicious produce coming. Amber Waves offers a number of different CSA memberships and dates through their website, as well as special grocery pickup options. We are looking forward to participating again this fall and wish Katie, Amanda and their team all the best in the year ahead.

Regardless of your method, curriculum, or reasons for homeschooling, here are a few affordable (and free!) products that have not only brought ease but also elevated our homeschool experience. None of these recommendations are sponsored; I do not receive a commission for you clicking on any of the links below. What is posted is only a reflection of what has been helpful for us. So, as with any CVG post, use only what works for and applies to you and your family.

Organization & Planning.
For those of us living in states with highly regulated homeschool laws, staying organized is a must. That being said… as a career educator of twenty years I have found that being organized, to whatever extent we can and regardless of where we live, is in the best interest of any parent. This is not about the aspirational perfection that floods the internet. After all, our resources, values, needs, and lives are all very different, and aspiration for aspiration’s sake is an empty and maddening pursuit. For me, organizing and planning simply means creating a trajectory of educational success (as I define it) for my child while minimizing my own stress level so that I can remain present to her needs in the process.

Lara Casey’s Cultivated Homeschool Planner. This is a FREE printable resource, and it is truly priceless. https://laracasey.com/2018/10/01/free-download-homeschool-planner/ Before I began homeschooling, I stumbled upon it and slowly spent a month developing our mission, values, and goals for the remainder of the school year. The monthly pages are pure gold. The intention is not to go down a detailed mommy bragging hole, but only to say with sincerity out of my passion for the product’s value that:

• My child has grown in so many ways in the past six months
• We have been able to meet and exceed many goals because of breaking down, reflecting upon, and setting goals on a daily, weekly, monthly, and seasonal basis.
• I have been better equipped to keep the journey in perspective, which has resulted in more joyful teaching.

Emily Ley At-a-Glance Weekly Planner. The reasonably priced large weekly planner, which can be purchased at Target and Office Depot for under $40, has been great for keeping track of what we do each day, and my child’s attendance. I don’t have to write a novel, but using coded symbols I know exactly what my child has done each day, and I am able to make notes about how the day went. Living in a highly regulated state, my plan is to start record-keeping now, so that it is a habit from the beginning of our journey. In addition to saving papers and schoolwork, it is easy to have these planners stored away at the end of each academic year, for easy reference as needed.

Desktop File Folder (FREE) and Spreadsheet software (FREE if on your computer): As I download free and purchased printable materials, I sort them into sub-folders by season, subject, unit etc. Like cleaning out one’s email box, I do this periodically a few minutes at a time, so it doesn’t build up and get overwhelming. 15-30 minutes once a month seems to do the trick. My spreadsheet helps me keep track of what I have, and I can use it for easy reference. In the case of materials that are appropriate for older children, I make a note of that as well, so I can take advantage of them at a later time. A parent with children of different ages may find it useful to add an additional level of folders to sort printables by approximate age and development level. Now that I’ve built up quite a collection of things that are appropriate for my child for the next 2-3 years, I’m slowing down on my downloading. It is easy to go down a rabbit hole with this stuff, so I need a little digital minimalism in this new frontier.

Setting up a separate email address for our school. After joining many wonderful mailing lists, I decided it would be best to set up a separate email address. No regrets; this streamlines things a great deal.

Plastic bin for daily homeschool routine. Gives the little one a framework but enables her to pick the order of most of the activities. What doesn’t get used may get left in for the following day’s bin.

Washi Tape & Index Cards. I post a brief hello message as well as the date on the front of the daily homeschool bin. It includes the day of the week, month and date, as a way of gradually instilling the concept of days to my child. We read it in the beginning part of our home school.

Iris Self-Stacking Plastic Filing Cabinets. Self-explanatory.  Why do I think there will be a wall full of these in our future... :-)

Regardless of your method, curriculum, or reasons for homeschooling, here are a few affordable (and free!) products that have not only brought ease but also elevated our homeschool experience. None of these recommendations are sponsored; I do not receive a commission for you clicking on any of the links below. What is posted is only a reflection of what has been helpful for us. So, as with any CVG post, use only what works for and applies to you and your family.

Tools
3-Hole Puncher. Want to put something in a binder, perhaps by season or subject? You can get a decent one for less than $30.

The Apache AL9W Personal Laminator. This cost less than $30 on Amazon and can handle 8.5x11 paper easily. 100 packs of sheets are available to the tune of $20. I use it to create dry erase and playdough mats and to make manipulatives, games, and flash cards much more durable.

The Fellowes Star + 150 Comb Binding Machine. For about $65, you can have a quality comb binder. While some things end up in a three-ring binder, other materials I like to use the comb binder for. I am also planning to use it for select e-books. I am homeschooling a pre-kindergartener, but I can see how this product has great longevity and far more usefelness as she grows. For a parent of an older child, this could be particularly beneficial for home-printed curriculum, nature study journals, reports and records. You will need to purchase comb binders and plastic covers separately, to the tune of $10-25 for a 100-pack. While they are expensive, bought in bulk they can last for a long time.

Please note, that in the case both the Apache and the Fellowes, these devices are for personal use. You can’t overdo it with churning out materials, and it requires patience to follow manufacturer’s guidelines. The quality of the product you will receive for a modest cost, however, makes following the proper maintenance and manufacturer’s recommendations well worth it. Added bonus of a personal device: neither the laminator nor the binding machine take up a lot of space.

Dollar Tree and Target’s Bullseye Playground. I get that these are not a tool, and at first glance, not necessarily in line with the message of minimalism. But hear me out--- in moderation and with intention, you can outfit your child’s homeschool experience (especially for grammar school and younger) with some wonderful educational products and unit supplements. I remember getting little pots with growing mediums and seeds for a $1 each at Target, and they played an invaluable role in our plant unit. Dollar Tree has had a lot of great basic supplies for crafts and manipulatives. Perfectly functional binders, just like the ones you will find in other stores, are a fraction of the cost here. If you share in my convictions about trying to buy as many “made in the USA” products as possible, you will find that if you look carefully, you can find some American-made goods at Dollar Tree.

Living in a part of the world with a staggering cost of living index has involves keeping eyes wide open for resources that allow for a meaningful quality of life.

To say that the library system has played a role in the life of our family would be an understatement. The opportunities it has provided remain at the top of the list. I couldn't be more grateful.

Books: The most obvious. In my past life as a person who could drop excessive amounts of money on a topic of interest at Borders (RIP), I find much of what I want right at the library. (And, when I don't, there's always the Live-brary, the online catalog that covers all of Suffolk Country). You can even check out magazines, audio books, and e-books.  (Added bonus: When you check out books from our library in particular, it states on the receipt approximately how much money you've saved by borrowing).

Programs & The Children's Department: Whether you are 2, 12, 42, or 82, there is something for you. Library branches run a host of events, activities and classes throughout the week. The classes for the littlest ones are "mommy and me" style. The structured, age-appropriate activities amidst socialization guided by grown-ups makes for a remarkable "parallel play" opportunity for toddlers. Lots of great manners and conversation-building skills are developed while learning new things. The Children's Department librarians we have encountered have been creative, caring, engaging people who model a real love for literacy and learning. It is rare for us to go more than a couple of days without having something special coming up at one of our local branches, and sometimes, it can work out to be two or three classes in a single day. These are heaven sent on rainy and/or chilly days, especially when preceded or followed by a trip to the Children's Department, to play with puzzles and toys, read books, or even do a scavenger hunt.

Museum Passes: Want to visit a local museum for free? We've enjoyed seeing the Nassau County Museum of Art, Parrish Art Museum, Cradle of Aviation, Heckscher Museum, Maritime Explorium, and the Long Island Children's Museum. Different libraries offer different museum passes.

Strategies/Caveats: Depending on your branch and how popular the classes and museum passes are, it may be like a "mini Cyber Monday" when registration time opens. Get to know the dates, deadlines and popularity of what your library offers. At our local branches, some things fill up within minutes. I check out the classes I want to register for in advance and then put the registration dates and times on my calendar. When the registration window opens, I am quick to the draw. School breaks are a popular time to reserve museum passes, so plan accordingly.