How my garden is growing

There is a hymn that starts out like this: “A grateful heart a garden is, where there is always room for every lovely Godlike grace to come to perfect bloom.” CS Hymnal.

This morning, early, as I went into my backyard vegetable garden, outside of Tallahassee, Florida, I thought about the words of that spiritual song. I had a big, grateful heart. My heart was filled with gratitud for the beauty, and productivity of my garden, which has been blessing us with an abundant crop of pumpkin squash, which does not seem to have an end in sight. Other plants have given us an abundance of good as well, such as basil, peppers, mint, and so much more. My heart is filled with so much gratitude, which I have shared with others in the form of the results of my work in the garden, or rather, the rich soil of the garden allowing the element of abundance to occur.

What added to this grateful heart was the harmony of this autumn day, here in Tallahassee, Florida, with a crisp, coolness, in the air, and the purity of the blue in the sky. It was a day for walking, and admiring the beauty of surroundings. I did just that.

Now, I have prepared part of the garden soil for a new garden, a winter garden. Plants have come forth, and already, we have more results of the work done, and the gratitude expressed. Gratitude breeds more gratitude, and like a fountain, it keeps flowing forth. It is all good. A garden is a symbol of good. I feel that good when I am in my garden. It is a penetrating, inspiring good.

I have found the way. It is the way of the gardener. What a grateful heart the gardener has from season to season. Think of that grateful heart next time someone offers you some produce from a garden, or you walk or drive by someone’s home garden. The earth is filled with goodness, and blessings. I am grateful for the land that I live on here in north Florida, close to Tallahassee.

From one grateful heart to another! The kingdom is already here. We can say, “Thy kingdom come,” and mean it. That kingdom is in our heart of gratitude. I love the unfolding creation and the children of God who occupy it. It is heaven on earth, and I am reminded that the Guarani Indians of Paraguay have always believed that heaven on earth is a realistic possibility. The “land without evil” here on earth was a central element of their religious, moral, thought system.

My land without evil is right here, near Tallahassee, Florida, in a green spot in back of my home.

Will you tell me about your heaven on earth, as I would be very grateful to listen to other ideas.

Kenneth Fach teaching the unteachable

Yes, I teach a bunch of unteachable, unruly, discourteous middle school students in a Tallahassee, Leon County middle school.
Those in my class who want to learn Spanish, can’t learn because of the disruptive ones which are about 90% of the classes I teach.
You see, I have been all around the world, South American countries, Mexico, Germany, Italy, Spain, Canada, and other regions of the United States,
and never have I seen or experienced what I am experiencing at a Spanish teacher in Tallahassee. Students outside the United States are far more
eager to learn, are ready to learn and follow instructions, and do not have the puffed up, egocentric, ethnocentric drama plays that many
kids here have. There is little or no drama. Kids go to school knowing the consequences if they don’t do good. Punishment, and discipline is very
strict, and enforced as a society.

I don’t blame these Tallahassee middle school kids as much as I blame their sorry, low class environment. They were probably never taught courtesy, and respect at home, and they
probably don’t have a decent, humane home life. They don’t know any better? Or do they? Should that be an excuse?

Trying to teach the students in an interactive, storytelling, and student participation way, a few react well, but most don’t. I even tried the old fashioned
way of teaching: textbooks, copying from the board, dictation, worksheets, filling in the blanks. Nothing seems to work with these kids who would
rather be out fighting each other, having sex, going to parties, running the streets. I suspect that is what many of them will end of doing if they are
not dead or in jail.

Anyway, all I can do is be there to babysit, and teach the few who care, and want to learn a second language. Amidst the noise, caos, I can make some
difference. The rest, I don’t care. They made up their minds to behave the way they do, and nothing accepted by society will make a difference. Of course the
Bible does discuss kids that are troubled, and disturbed. The book of Proverbs discusses the issue of respect, honor, obedience, and correct behavior.
It discusses what is appropriate punishment, too. The United States of America has drifted away from the earlier Biblical teachings, and the fundamentals
of liberty which this society was built upon. Unless the students change their ways, they will not have the right to complain when their liberty is taken
away from them.

There was a time when going to school meant something. Today, based on my observations, going to school means absolutely nothing. What you learn
at school you can learn online, or through private instructions.

Since 1994, I have been privately teaching Spanish and writing skills to children and adults in and around Tallahasssee, Florida. I like doing that since
I get students who want to learn Spanish. They are paying me the money and would not do that if they were not serious.

Who have I taught in Tallahassee and surrounding areas:
I have taught Spanish to families planning on traveling to Peru, Ecuador, Spain, Mexico and elsewhere.
I have taught Spanish to attorneys, and even two local judges.
I have taught Spanish to several dentists, and one MD.
I have taught Spanish to real estate agents, and real estate investors. I even gave Spanish classes in two real estate offices.
I have taught Spanish to employees in the Florida legislature. I even taugth their children.
I have taught retired folks who just wanted something else to do, and to learn.
I have taught students at FSU, FAMU, and TCC who needed extra help in their Spanish classes, and more conversation.
I have taught stay at home moms, and stay at home dads.

The list probably goes on, but I truly get inspired teaching Spanish to those who want to learn it.

Although, I struggle day in and day out in a classroom of students who are going the way of losers (that is the choice they make),
I know that I teach plenty outside the public school environment who are dedicated to learning Spanish, and are a pleasure to teach.

I can pray for them and for everyone, and know in my thoughts that there is a place even for those who are hell on earth.

My Spanish Employment in Tallahassee

I came to Tallahassee in 1994 to work in my Master’s degree in Spanish, at Florida State University. I did not expect to stay on after I graduated, but I did, my wife, son and I. We soon felt comfortable in this city of many trees, parks, and friendly people.

I found a position in a State of Florida call center, which required the use of my Spanish communication. I liked the position, and spoke with hispanics from all over Florida and elsewhere, even Spain. I alway like meeting Spanish-speakers both native and non-native, and helping Spanish-speakers in ways I know how. In this position with the State of Florida, I was able to direct hispanics in need to appropriate social and community services, and received my share of thank yous. It was satisfying to me to know I was helpful.

After a few years of doing this kind of work, I went into another line of work, but found myself at another call center, MyFloridaMarketPlace. Again, I was hired there because I am fluent in Spanish. I was needed to handle incoming calls from Spanish speakers all over the world wanting to do business with state agencies of Florida, and needing assistance with registering their business online, as required for vendors wanting opportunities to sell their services, or products to Florida.

For those who think that learning Spanish is a waste of time, believe me, from personal experiences I can say that is is valuable to learn Spanish. Not just learn, but make it truly your second or third language. Adopt it as another way you can commuicate.

I have been in the following situations in which it was important that I knew Spanish. Here they are:

Several hispanics who did not know English, were traveling through Tallahassee, Florida, on the way to a job. I gave them direction, and advice in Spanish. I told them what to look out for and what to do in certain situations. I told them where to go for further assistance. I knew their language. There was no communication wall between us.

In another occasion, I was at the coastline near Tallahassee, Florida. A boat came in with only Spanish speakers. They needed a place to stay. I had a contact on the coast, and after being in cell phone communication with the contact, I found these individuals a place to stay, hide, or whatever. I will help any Spanish-speaker regardless if they are illegal or legal. I have helped many illegals, and will continue to do so.

I have volunteered time, teaching English to migrant workers, and teaching them their rights. I teach them to take advantage of anything in the United States system. Taking advantage is often a good thing.

In other situations, I have been asked to discuss God in Spanish to Spanish speakers interested in my religion, and in spiritual prayer. I always pray in Spanish, and study spirituality in Spanish.

I have helped hispanic children learn how to write their Spanish language. I have helped adults learn how to write in Spanish.

a Florida junior college called on me to teach Spanish to a group of Army Reservists, in a community education program. In that position, I heard a lot about the United States military operations in South American, and even was given manuals about operation procedures in both English, and Spanish. I was asked to translate certain classified and unclassified documents from English to Spanish, and from Spanish to English.

A law office called on me to give Spanish lessons to them. That was fun, and the group of 11 or 12 attorneys were very motivated.

I often hear Spanish in Walmart, the malls, and in the parks, in and outside of Tallahassee, Florida. I can greet them, converse with them, and show them that I am not a ethnocentric, monolingual citizen of the United States. I am a world citizen. I am a citizen of God’s creation. I am God’s child, just like each individual is. God knows all languages. Language is an expression of God’s diversity, and goodness. It is always a pleasure for me to be able to use my Spanish in any place I find myself.

I blog in Spanish, correspond with Spanish speakers all around the world via social media sites, and especially, Twitter. I am at http://Twitter.com/KenFach.

Florida Pest Control With its Benefits

I worked for about a year at an established pest control company in Tallahassee, called Florida Pest Control. I did a lot of tapping on peoples’ baseboards with the objective of inspecting for evidence of termites.

We used a long screwdriver and tapped in all the rooms. Tap, tap, tap. Yes, I woke up sleeping household members, and babies and irritated dogs and cats. The interesting thing about this, is that there is an electronic device on the market that more effectively sounds out what is going on inside the walls, but due to cost issues, we were not given this useful tool. Instead, we relied on the screwdriver to tap for hollow sounds in the wall, or softness in the wood. It did a job to my back while doing this line of work with Florida Pest Control company in Tallahassee, Florida. I finally gave up complaining about my back issues since that was an unwanted topic to management’s ears.

Yes, I had to call in sick sometimes, due to back pain. The back pain not only came from bending, and tapping so much, with the screwdriver, but also getting on and off the chemical truck I was using, and having fallen a couple times on the wet metal surface. On those cold winter mornings, the metal surface was icy and wet. We still had to climb up and check valves, and chemicals in the tanks. I was interrogated and offended when I had to call in due to back pain. I therefore, stopped calling in, and worked with back pain.

One benefit of working with Florida Pest Control was the opportunity to meet homeowners, share my real estate knowledge with them, and give them my real estate agent’s business card. I used my opportunity inspecting homes to sell my real estate services, and that I successfully did. I sold as well as listed real estate. That was the main reason I went to work for Florida Pest Control in the first place: to meet potential real estate buyers and sellers. I also did a good job as a termite inspector. Customers received good service in both areas: pest control and real estate.

While completing termite pretreatments on construction sites, I met many native Spanish speakers. I offered assistance in locating real estate for sale, and moved several people into their first homes. I also worked with investors who also were big time builders. Yes, some of the Tallahassee builders became good clients in my real estate business and I was their go to man for real estate investor deals.

Even though Florida Pest Control paid me very little in the course of that line of work, I made earnings in other areas, over and under the table. I even used my pest control truck to show people homes, and still was able to do my pest control work. I have always been good at multi-tasking.

Thanks Florida Pest Control for giving me some good real estate opportunities. Yeah, I know you paid me little, and resented any time off I needed to take to be with family, or to heal my back, but I did manage to get what I wanted to get out of my experience there. My back is getting better now.

Kenneth Fach Offers Expertise in Tallahassee

Hello Tallahassee, and others. I am offering a knowledge base, skills, and answers relating to the Spanish language, Teaching, Pest control, and Real Estate. I will explain my background in each of these areas.

I have been teaching Spanish in Tallahassee, Florida, as a private Spanish teacher or tutor since 1994. I go to offices, churches, and homes teaching my second language, Spanish. My goal in doing this is to promote the value of learning, acquiring Spanish, and the beauty of the Spanish language. I would like to see everyone learn Spanish or other languages. I have also taught in private and public schools. Currently, I have a challenging position at Nims Middle School in Tallahassee.

I have a background selling real estate here in Tallahassee, as well as elsewhere, such as Pensacola, Florida. have I sold, listed, and consulted on the subject of residential home sells. I worked with both buyers and selling, and often preferred the buyer over the seller, as sellers tend to be unrealistic and greedy. I have always been a deal maker favoring the buyer. I worked for Exit Realty, Keller Williams, and Weichert Realtors.

Here in Tallahassee, I worked for Florida Pest Control. I inspected homes, and provided termite treatments. I have knowledge in home inspections and what chemicals should or should not be used. I can advise on what termite systems are useful and which ones are not. My fees are probably less than what you would pay Florida Pest Control.

Busco un trabajo mejor en Tallahassee

Hola amigos, y los de otras partes que no conozco. He decidido que voy a escribir solamente en el español y no más inglés. Enseño el español a muchos muchachos de Tallahassee. ¡La vida es diversa! A mí me gusta mucha la diversidad. Hay nuevas cosas que se pueden aprender, y conocer. Hay gente con sus historias que quiero conocer. Hay palabras y sus formas de usar que me caen bien. La vida es corta, no larga, pero voy a hacer todo lo que puedo, para darme la satisfacción de conocer lo más posible de la creación de Dios.

Sobre todo, soy leal a Dios. Dios es mi vida ahora y para siempre. No puede hacer nada sin Dios. Dios es el bien, siempre presente. Me da beneficios, oportunidades, alegrías, conocimiento. El es todo para mí.

Vivo en una parte norte de la ciudad de Tallahassee, que esta rodeado de bosques, árboles, casas y lagos. A mi me gusta estar en la naturaleza, sacando fotos, rezando, caminando, y dando gratidud que hay lugares tranquilos que puedo ver y conocer.

Todos los días, miro la bondad de Dios. Su bondad, y belleza esta por todas partes. Por eso, soy un hombre muy agradecido, es decir, lleno de graditud.

Mis tweets en espanol My Spanish tweets

21. @trboogie ¿Por qué no te sientes bien? ¿Te duele el estómago o la cabeza? ¿Qué te duele?10:52 PM Sep 30th from web in reply to trboogie

22. @suziqpoet That is a very good sign of becoming fluent. Congratulations. Keep dreaming in Spanish.10:51 PM Sep 30th from web in reply to suziqpoet

23. @theonlydemifan My son forgot it to when we came from Paraguay, but, he is relearning it. I want a bilingual, or multilingual son.10:49 PM Sep 30th from web in reply to theonlydemifan

24. @innobound I made a goal when I was 8 years old that someday I would be fluent in Spanish. That some day came fast, as I lived Spanish.10:48 PM Sep 30th from web in reply to innobound

25. ¡Viva el español! ¡Viva! Fui a muchos paises, pero no conozco España, aunque pasé una semana en Barcelona hace muchos años.10:47 PM Sep 30th from web

26. Imaginese si Colombus podia hacer blogs.10:45 PM Sep 30th from web

27. @angelosearch Felicitaciones en cuanto a los verdes folders.10:43 PM Sep 30th from web in reply to angelosearch

28. @Cochapacha numeros nonees?10:35 PM Sep 30th from web in reply to Cochapacha

29. @perez2009 Estoy totalmente de acuerdo. Las palabras de espanol me suenan mejor, y hablan al corazon. ¡Viva el español! ¡Viva!10:34 PM Sep 30th from web in reply to perez2009

30. @Izarnotegui Hay lo bueno y lo malo en cuanto a China.10:32 PM Sep 30th from web in reply to Izarnotegui

31. Anyone in Tallahassee wanting to learn Spanish, improve their Spanish or needing a translator/interpreter?10:31 PM Sep 30th from web

32. Heard from a Leon County School board professional that the student population, and pop. in general will be drifting downward now.10:31 PM Sep 30th from web

33. I live in Tallahassee, and maybe you should too. Unfortunately, the forecast is for fewer students and a population decrease.10:30 PM Sep 30th from web

34. @vma06 Tallhassee is beautiful. Tallahassee es hermoso.10:29 PM Sep 30th from web in reply to vma06

35. @mela1908 What’s in Tallahassee? Too many florishing green trees everywhere.10:25 PM Sep 30th from web in reply to mela1908

36. Hola Tallahassee, Florida. Alguien necesita un hombre de habla espanol? Busco algo muy bueno, y que me puede cambiar la vida mia.10:23 PM Sep 30th from web

37. que viva America! Que viva la raza!10:20 PM Sep 30th from web

38. Quiero amigos que creen en el concepto de ¡Viva el español! ¡Viva!10:02 PM Sep 30th from web

39. @innobound Through Spanish radio, television, Spanish-speaking people in my life, living in LA, Mexico, and Paraguay, obsession with it.10:01 PM Sep 30th from web in reply to innobound

40. @DonPublius As a teacher, I am probably expected to join a union as well. I hear both sides about that.9:39 PM Sep 30th from web in reply to DonPublius

more

Los tweets en espanol My Spanish tweets

Here are some of my Spanish tweets from Tallahassee, Florida.

1. @jorgecoronel De nada. Tengas un buen fin de semana!less than 10 seconds ago from web in reply to jorgecoronel

2. El viernes, ¡Qué te quiero!about 7 hours ago from web

3. Hoy es viernes. ¡Tómalo con calma! Mañana es otro día. Siempre, ¡tómalo con calma!about 7 hours ago from web

4. Se le preguntó, -¿Cuantós helicópteros hay? El otro hombre le repondió, – eso que vuela. Jajajajajaabout 7 hours ago from web

5. Alguien por la radio dijo que México es un país de chistes. Tal vez es verdad.about 8 hours ago from web

6. http://www.twitter-links.com/ Este link en ingles para ellos que quieren aprender de Twitter.about 8 hours ago from web

7. @charlymaiz Yo pensé, que solamente los mexicanos usan, -¡Qué onda!about 8 hours ago from web in reply to charlymaiz

8. ¡Buenos días Tallahassee, Florida! ¿Qué vas a hacer hoy? Que dia para dar un paseo a pie, ¿no es verdad?about 8 hours ago from web

9. Quiero ir a acampar en uno de los parques estatales de Florida. Hay muchos, y son lindos. Hay muchos parques verdes cerca de Tallahassee.about 8 hours ago from web

10. Por fin hace fresco en Tallahassee, Florida. Ya se fue el calor, aunqué puede regresar.about 8 hours ago from web

11. ¡Buenos días Asunción, Paraguay! ¡Qué tengan un buen día! Quiero conocerte más la ciudad de las flores y la gente muy amable.about 8 hours ago from web

12. @Ri_co_ Desde mi ninez, cuando tenia mas o menos 15 anos.about 8 hours ago from web in reply to Ri_co_

13. what do you call a person who speaks two languages—–BILINGUAL. What do you call a person who only speaks one language—–AMERICAN”about 24 hours ago from web

14. Anyone want help with their Spanish? Hay alguien que quiere ayuda con el espanol? Te puedo ayudar. I can help you.about 24 hours ago from web

15. Buenas noches a todos. Duermanse bien, o en otras regiones, tengan un buen dia!11:04 PM Sep 30th from web

16. the underlying technology that makes the Internet run was developed by the US Department of Defense 40 years ago.11:03 PM Sep 30th from web

17. Siempre doy gracias a Dios en español.11:01 PM Sep 30th from web

18. @innobound Practice makes perfect is especially true in learning other languages. I lived it, breathed it, ate it, drank it, prayed in it.11:00 PM Sep 30th from web in reply to innobound

19. I know there are some Tallahassee business folks that need a Spanish speaker, teacher, translator, interpreter. Hola, les puedo servir!10:59 PM Sep 30th from web

20. Este mundo es para todos. La creación que El creó es hermosa. Estoy muy agradecido de tener ojos para verla.10:58 PM Sep 30th from web

* Name Kenneth Fach
* Location Tallahassee
* Bio Veo la bondad de Dios por todas partes. Spanish Tutor. Fluent in Spanish. M.A. in Spanish from Florida State University. I like organic gardening.

A Tallahassee teacher dealing with a middle school experience

A new school year has begun here in Tallahassee, Florida. I found a teaching position at a middle school in the area. I teach Spanish to six, seventh and eight graders. Many of my students come from less than appropriate living environments, with broken households, guardians, instead of parents, issues of poverty, gangs, street living, and an unsupportive learning environment at home. Many of my students have not been taught courtesy, respect for others, how to study, and how to behave properly. I have my hands full, that is for sure. So do all the other dedicated, good, teachers that I am surrounded with. I always admire teachers. They do earn their salary, as they spend so much of their time, at home, and on weekends working for their students.

My job is to teach Spanish. I have done this well on many occasion, to both children and adults, as a private Spanish teacher, and in schools. I have six years of experience teaching Spanish at high schools, and several years of experience teaching English at language institutes in Mexico and Paraguay. I have been providing private Spanish lessons in Tallahassee, Florida, to all age groups since 1994. You can say that is my secret under the table job. I have turned non-Spanish speakers into fluent Spanish speakers, and have a sense of pride and joy in knowing that.

Now, my task is much harder, since I am in a classroom with children who probably would rather be out on the streets like their buddies, or with their buddies. I really don’t know. Only a few of my students truly care or appear to care about learning Spanish. I know middle school has its challenges in general as the children are going through the hormonal period of their physical lives, however, at this particular school, the kids are in general troubles, retarded, gangsters, nervous, or carry other mental, physical issues with them. These are not what I or others would call a normal group of children to teach to. I have seen much better behaved young people. I do understand that they come into the classroom with issues from a sorry, inferior home environment. I cannot blame them for the defects of their parents/caregivers. The adults pass their issues on to the children, and the children pay the ultimate price by not taking their education seriously.

Now, does all of this background mean that I do not go into the classroom with high expectations that at least some of the students will learn, and get something out of a foreign language education? No, not at all. I have much hope. There are good students. I praise them, and help to lead them on, although they are surrounded by wolves. What goes on in the limited thought processes of the wolves? Certainly, not the way of righteousness. It is not a story of wolves united with lambs. The lambs are conscientious learners, the wolves just don’t care.

I go into the Spanish classroom speaking Spanish, and giving new vocabulary to the class. The lambs will acquire the vocabulary, and participate, while the wolves play away their illogical behaviors and sink in their own crap. My lesson will continue, and those who can swim will make the A grades, and those who do not get it, because they purposely stay off task, will make the low end grades, and will not even walk ashamed of their sin: not wanting understanding; not getting knowledge; not reaching for wisdom. The book of Proverbs would be a good manual for the wolves to read.

Of course, the good students do not want to study, nor are able to adequately learn in a room with those who don’t want to learn. They don’t understand why we as teacher, cannot remove those disruptive ones from the class, either temporarily or permanently. I have had children ask me that question. I really don’t have an answer, but I can say, that in most societies around the world, there is separation between those who want to learn, and those who want to be rude, disruptive, and don’t care about learning.
We make children get an academic education, but of course, we know that not all children will grow up and use their academic educational experience. Hence, we have all those people working in vocations, the blue collar workers. In other societies, not everyone gets to have an standard education. Some do, some don’t. Some are just not academically inclined. Children are sent into a vocational tract, or an academic tract. American education is quite different from the rest of the world. We want, and expect all our children to be great readers, writer and intellectuals. This is not reality, of course. Just look around at society.

Having lived and taught in other countries, I know that respect, courtesy and honor go much further. Children behave much better in other parts of the world, in general. They have an environment in which honor is super important. If they misbehave, or show disrespect to their teachers, they are acting dishonorably, and that hurts the family reputation, or family name in the community. They have strong supportive families, but oh yes, I have to remember, that in the United States of America, many kids come from broken homes, and do not have family support. There is no sense of obligatioin of honor. Teachers are not given the high standing that they are in most other lands around the world. In the Spanish speaking world, in which I have personal experience, teachers are respected, honored members of the community, and are respectfully treated by the children. No nonsense, classroom disruptions, or disrespect, such as you find in American public schools. Children in many cultures go to school in nice looking uniforms. Here in Tallahassee, they go to school looking like you know what. They play “cool.” For some reason, it is hard to get Americans to accept uniforms for all their children.

The solution as I see it for American education:
1. Require business like uniforms with boys wearing ties.
2. Remove troubled, disruptive kids from class instead of integrating them in the classroom with the good, hardworking students.
3. Have tougher punishments for children who disrupt. Bring back biblical principles into the educattional system.
4. Give teachers more staff support, and less bureacratic paperwork to complete, so that teachers can focus on teaching. Get rid of these ESE forms, and other paperwork that in the big picture serve for nothing except to please certain demographic groups.
5. Keep class sizes small, so each student gets better attention. Students crave my attention, but I can’t help them adequately since I have to help other students too. I feel so bad for them. Each teacher should have another adult helper in the room, especially in a system that requires integration of children in the same room. I am reminded that classroom integration is a recent phenomenon in history. How many hard working students have come forward and said that they do most of their learning outside class on the computer, or through other means? I hear this all the time. They do not learn in such a diverse classroom. I could not when I was a student! I was mostly self-taught.
6. We need government programs, like a public works program that will shuffle the kids that ought not be in a traditional school environment, into a trade route, a vocational tract.

As a Tallahassee Spanish teacher, I will do all I can to get the children interested in another language. I believe and always will believe in the importance of foreign languages started at the elementary school level and continuing ever year to the last year of the formal educational program. Foreign language education serves to strengthen our first language use, makes us appreciate other people, and their way of communicating, and makes us able to communicate with a wider global demographic. I know that I can go to over 30 countries and communicate in Spanish very well with the people. I would like my students to have that confidence some day.

Earth Day Week’s Activities in Tallahassee

Get out in your community and celebrate the Earth. You and I live on it, it is our home, whether we like it or not, and we need to honor our home. Below are events in Tallahassee supporting Earth Day throughout the week.

Saturday, April 18

Cash for Trash at Solid Waste Services, 2727 Municipal Way, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

2009 Earth Day Jam at the Bradfordville Blues Club, 7152 Moses Lane, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Celebrate the importance of the Earth Day observance in today’s world at this musical festival and environmental exhibition.
Monday, April 20

Capital City Kiwanis Club meeting at Golden Corral, 1630 N. Monroe Street, 12:30-1 p.m. A City representative from EPER will speak about “Earth Friendly Environment for the Workplace.”

EPER’s Green Thumb Project from 3:30 – 4:30 p.m. at Lake Ella. EPER will participate in planting butterfly bushes and pruning of existing plantings.
Wednesday, April 22 (Earth Day)

Earth Day at the Capitol in Waller Park (west side of the Capitol building facing S. Duval Street), 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection is hosting this event to educate teachers and students on ways to green their schools. The event is expected to draw approximately 1,000 students.

Earth Day at SouthWood at the Capital Circle Office Complex, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Earth Day at SouthWood will be an educational event to promote living “Green” for state employees.

Meals on Wheels at Elder Care Services, 2518 W. Tennessee Street, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. A City representative from EPER will speak about “Earth Friendly Environment for the Workplace.”
Thursday, April 23

Sustainability Planning and Reporting Kit (SpaRK) Training at the Challenger Learning Center, located on Kleman Plaza at 200 S. Duval Street, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sustainable Florida will host a training session titled, The Business Guide to Sustainability and SpaRK.
Friday, April 24

Florida Department of Education (DOE) Conservation Committee at the DOE Lobby, 325 W. Gaines Street, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. DOE is hosting an energy and environmental exhibition for its employees.
Saturday, April 25

Compost Bin Sale in the Tallahassee Mall parking lot near the Ross Store, 2415 N. Monroe Street, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Free Community Shredding Event at the Tallahassee Police Department (234 East 7th Avenue) from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. Shred-it Tallahassee will be hosting a free community-wide shred event. Please contact their office at 309-1996 for additional information.

Paper or Plastic? I’ll take neither! Reusable Bag Campaign from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. at the Downtown Farmers’ Market, located at the Chain of Parks in Downtown Tallahassee, to promote waste reduction through the use of reusable bags.

Here Is What I Would Barter

Right here in Tallahassee, Florida, people are bartering goods and services. Just go to the bartering page on Craigslist for Tallahassee and you will see a lot of bartering interest.

People discuss bartering on Twitter, and since I am on Twitter, I like to contact users who like the bartering economic idea. I see bartering as a lifestyle, and alternative to the monetary system, one that works, and has centuries of history and prehistory supporting it. Bartering is older than money, and older than governments. People who think like this and support ideas outside the status quo, are some of the Twitter users and other online users I like connecting with.

I would like to meet people here in Tallahassee and beyond, who would like to barter with me, and make bartering a workable way of life. I know it can be done. I have bartered before with no money involved.

Bartering involves freedom from paying taxes, and having to live from paycheck to paycheck. During Argentina’s last big economic crisis, neighborhood bartering groups formed, and unemployed or underemployed people survived well by bartering. In American history, people bartered with one another. We don’t read much about that in the history books, since bartering as an economic system is left out of most books, that I have seen, or heard about. Both rich and poor can benefit by bartering. Some people barter in private without reporting it anywhere. This is the freedom of bartering.

Someone the other day asked me what I can barter. Well, here is a list of services I can barter with others, for either their services, goods, or assistance.

I can:

Set up a blog and make blog posts.
Offer HTML coding for websites.
Teach/tutor Spanish.
Write and edit articles/blogs.
Market goods or services online for companies or individuals.
Do basic computer office work.
Work in an organic garden.
Prepare an organic garden.
Paint walls.
Research data.
Get information from competitors.

There are the goods I can offer in a bartering exchange as well. I have household good I can barter for services or other goods I may need. Besides my own goods, I can purchase more goods at low cost on EBAY, Craigslist, yardsales, and other bartering folks, and uses those goods for bartering.

Like money, bartering is a system, but one in which the individual has control, and there are no governmental rules. We make the rules.

I can barter skills that I have acquired in various jobs I have had in (education, pest control, call center helpdesk, technology, social services, sales).

Let’s get together and barter. Find others in your own neighborhood who want to barter, and go for it. Take control of your day, and make a new living by bartering. I will be seeking out people in Tallahassee who want to barter with me.

This Tallahassee man called Kenneth Fach

Now, I am going to describe who Kenneth Fach in Tallahassee, Florida is. Kenneth came to Tallahassee in 1994, to work on his master’s degree in, Spanish Language and Linguistics, at Florida State University. He spent much of his time in the Dodd building and in the teaching assistants office, planning his classes, grading student papers, and working on his own Spanish class assignments. Kenneth taught Spanish to undergraduates during his graduate program, and was a popular teacher for the several years he was teaching Spanish. After graduating, he went back to teaching Spanish in a high school. Kenneth, his wife, and son, have not left Tallahassee since 1994, as they both like the community, the many parks, and the green, forested, surroundings.

Some know Kenneth Fach as a real estate agent, who started working in real estate sales in Pensacola, Florida, his hometown community, and later, continuing real estate in Tallahassee. Others know Kenneth Fach  as a Spanish teacher, a Spanish tutor, a youth volunteer, a vegetable garden enthusiast, a friend of nature, a hiker, camper, a Christian Scientist, a devout student of biblical studies, a loyal husband, good dad, and an avid  coffee drinker.   He has been active with the scouts, encouraging his son in his scout achievements.  Others, know Kenneth Fach  as a Florida state employee, since he worked for Florida’s Department of Children and Families for about six years using his writing, editing, computer, Spanish language and customer service skills. Others know Kenneth as a blogger who also frequents and leaves posts on Twitter.

Kenneth llikes to blog on a variety of topics: micro-blogging, technology, land, the Spanish language, Spanish teaching techniques and his teaching experiences, experiences he has had in other countries, such as Mexico and Paraguay, northwest Florida lifestyles, Tallahassee, camping experiences, home decorating, and improving ideas, as well as  growing up in ranch style homes.   Kenneth desires to spend much more time blogging, as he is passionate about the written word, both in Spanish and English. Kenneth Fach is a lot of different things, but one thing is certain, Kenneth puts the spiritual, before the material in all aspects of his living. He daily spends quiet contemplation with his Creator, and gives gratitude for the goodness of creation.

Kenneth likes Tallahassee because of the many natural green spaces all over. He loves trees, parks, and the color green, his favorite color. Kenneth  painted the interior walls of his prior home, sage green, as the dominating color, but had also painted the interior walls of other homes because of his inspirational and attractive use of the color green. He has surprised himself at what he can do with the color green to decorate a home.

Kenneth likes the closeness of Tallahassee to many of Florida’s state parks, national forests, beaches, lakes, rivers, cultural attractions, a yearly grape festival, Christmas festival, Spring Celebration, and so much more. He finds everything he wants in Tallahassee, except for mountains, and canyons. He likes taking his family to fine musical concerts at Florida State University, and FAMU.

Prior to coming to Tallahassee, and after graduate school, Kenneth taught school, used innovative teaching strategies to get the students involved in foreign language learning, and had classes filled with movement and activity, literally. Kenneth always believes that everyone should participate in his classes, and he had a way of making this happen. Schools are often centers of teacher and administrator political plays, and old school ways of doing things, which have proven to be ineffective in many subject areas. Kenneth is not against old fashion ideas, but he knows that in the times we live today, we need to cheerfully usher in innovation, newness, freshness, in the classroom, and discard the old, worn out clothing of older days. Kenneth embraces the total physical response teaching strategies developed by James Asher in the 1960’s. Too much is new today, and Kenneth welcomes that. He also welcomes a team approach to educating children, even getting parents involved, and interested.

Kenneth loved the classroom, but wanted to try other areas of work. He went to work for the State of Florida using his writing, computer, editing, foreign language, and customer service skills. Kenneth brough new ideas into his team at his workplace, and brought a lot of dedication to his job. He even inspired colleagues to take up a foreign language.

For much of his life, Kenneth Fach had been exposed to the workings of entrepreneurs. His uncle owned over 12 travel agencies in Chicago, his grandpa was a real estate developer in New Mexico, and created and owned the most successful camera shop and photography business in Albuquerque in the early part of the 20th century. Kenneth’s other uncle was an Inn keeper in Illinois, and also invested in real estate. Kenneth’s dad was an artist, painter, owned his own picture frame and art gallery, sold all areas of  insurance, was an  investment planner, calligrapher, teacher of calligraphy, commercial artist, aviation engineer, and hollywood cameraman. Kenneth Fach comes from a family of so many diverse interests, and backgrounds, and this gives Kenneth much to be proud of.

Kenneth’s first love of his life, is his love for the Holy Bible. He gets this love from his dad who daily studied the bible and Christian metaphysics.

Kenneth Fach welcomes all into his circle of friendship, and brotherhood. Kenneth is all for following the precepts of his Master, Christ Jesus, and sharing his biblical love with others.

Kenneth talks with people about ranch style homes since he finds that some have never lived in this long lasting symbol of American architecture. Others like to share their experiences living in ranch style homes as well, with the many stories coming within these homes. Kenneth is proud of his ranch home background, and hopes that the ranch home always stays as an architectural icon for America.

Kenneth would be happy if you want to speak Spanish with him! Kenneth is passionate about the Spanish language and loves to share that passion with others in Tallahassee, and elsewhere. You can find Kenneth on Twitter at http://Twitter.com/KenFach.

Beware of the dog, or the termites?

Having worked in the pest control business, I can tell you that there are termites doing bad things to homes and other dwellings here in Florida.  In fact, termites are a real problem, especially here in Florida, due to all our moisture, and temperature mix. All the termite types thrive well here, and my hometown of Tallahassee, Florida has been impacted by this cellulose eating critter.

There are two main categories of termites: subterranean, and drywood. The subterranean termites are more numerous. The subterranean termites need moisture from within the earth. They make mud tunnels to climb up into a home, or other structure to get to the wood, or wood products. They must however, be able to return back to the soil for the moisture and nutrients. Drywood termites do not make colonies in the earth. They live in the wood of a structure, or tree.

Within the subterranean termite category are the formosan termites. Formosans are not native to North America. They were recently brought over in ships from overseas regions:  the orient. However, they are the most aggressive of all termites in the United States. They can eat the wood our of a home in as little as three months. They have been found in New Orleans, California, and Florida. They are particularly populated in south Florida, and are moving up to north Florida in greater numbers.

I have seen the damage of termites in Tallahassee. Homes that have lost the roof, or floors that have caved in, decks that are infested. One home can have numerous termite colonies within, and the human residents may be totally unaware of this. Termites do their work with the walls, not outside them. They can be found in wood furniture, and picture frames, however. Again, they go for the cellulose found in wood and wood products, including paper.

Now the best way to protect a dwelling from termites, is by applying a chemical liquid solution of either “premise,” which is usually effective for one to two years, or “termidor,” which is effective for  up to 10 years. A pest control technician, will make a small trench around the exterior perimeter of the home and then apply the liquid termiticide. The older method of applying a termiticide, using tubes with wood bait in them (Sentricon), is not that useful, as it works only if the termites are attracted to the bait tubes. They can always access the  home between the tubes, as the tubes are only applied inside the earth at intervals around the perimeter of the home. Termites have been proven to be much smarter than falling for the bait.

I love Tallahassee, and Florida in general. Who doesn’t. I live here, but am aware of the dangers and higher risks associated with Florida living: hurricanes, tornados, floods, snakes, alligators in most bodies of water, insect pests, long hot summers, and of course, termites.

Would I live elsewhere? Well, give me a cabin in the rockies of Colorado. I would go there. Darn, no mountains in Florida. Hahaha, we have the beautiful beaches, the white sand dunes of the Gulf of Mexico coastline of Florida. We have many forest regions, and rural land. I will deal with the termites.

Termites hiding in your home

Here in Tallahassee, Florida, we have optimum conditions for wood destoying organisms, including termites. We have ideal moisture conditions which termites need.

Our subterranean termites are the largest termite type. They get their moisture from the soil and work their way up into the wood structure or wood objects in the home or around the home. They use flattened mud tunnels with a stable humidity content to reach into the home”s wood structure, which most homes have. I have yet to see a home not having a wood frame in this part of the country.

Our drywood termites get their moisture from the wood itself. Wood absorbs moisture from the air since the air has moisture. These termites do not come from the soil. They make tunnels in the wood above the ground, going with the grain of the wood, and leaving pellets, which the subterranean termites do not leave. You take a flashlight and put the pellets on the glass of the light and the pellets will appear red, indicating that the termites are the drywood type.

I recently wnt into someone’s attic and poked around with someone who is a termite expert. He tapped on wood studs with a screwdriver, found soft, hollow spots all over with trails filled with termite pellots. The attic and home was infested with termites. We did not see living termites, but had all the evidence we needed that termites are feasting on the wood. Parts of wood boards were eaten away. There may have been 15 termite colonies in that home. What a shame. The colony has its workers that have to go out looking for other wood in the structure. A colony of termites may have multiple pairs of kings and queens. Each king and queen pair leave the colony to make a new termite colony somewhere, either in the same building or elsewhere.

Besides finding pellets that appear red on the light of the fashlight, another way to identify if there are termites is by finding wings at an open light source. Only the kings and queens have wings, while the soldier and worker termites, the most numerous demographic do not. Look along window frames, and door entrances foe those termite wings. Another way to locate evidence of termite activity is by beating the baseboards along the interior walls with the head of a screwdriver. The hollow sound may be an indication of wood eaten out by termites. You then take the screwdriver and see if you can open up the hollow wood, or soft wood. You may see thousandas of tiny termite pellets falling out.

In the attic and on the walls, you need to look for darken spots or moisture spots. That is a good sign as well after further exloration.

These are ways of finding termites or evidence of termites. ThIs termite friend and expert took the time to educate me about termites, and how to find clues of their presence. So now, I feel like a termite detective. Here in humid Tallahassee, it is not a bad skill to have, finding termites. I have seen homes lost or badly damaged to termite activity in Tallahassee. This is where the expertise of pest control companies come in to play. I am willing to spend some money to have my home protected.

Growing up hiking

I am attracted to all the hiking opportunities that are available inside and near Tallahassee, Florida. There are trees and trails for everyone who likes being outdoors. The forests in our community make up for the lack of sea and mountain, although the sea is only about 45 minutes from Tallahassee, if driving.

My love of hiking started with my dad. When I was a child under 10 years of age, living in southern California, dad took me camping and hiking in Yosemite, Sequoia, Big Bear and other parks. I remember the rocky streams we crossed, and the narrow trails we hiked on through challenging terrain. I remember the rattlesnake we met on the trail and the deer.

Then, when living in Albuquerque, New Mexico for two years starting at 11 years of age, I experienced more hiking. Grandpa owned a mountain canyon, which he partly subdivided into home lots. One afternoon, grandpa offered to take me for an early morning hike the next morning through the back of the canyon and over a couple ridges.

The next morning I woke up, went to Grandpa, and without saying anything to him, he stated that he knew why I was there that early in the morning. He knew I was ready to hike up Echo Canyon with him. That is what we did. Grandpa always hiked and made an extensive list of all the flora and fauna he observed in his canyon. I am so grateful to have seen that list and the artifacts he collected.

I will always be grateful for my humble hiking beginnings.

Won’t you like to go on a hike with me?

Tallahassee is high tech and tweets

I go on Twitter daily, and like to read what others here in Tallahassee are tweeting about. So many interesting tweets on all different topics. Twitter is a valuable networking resource, idea market, center of wisdom, a product information source, and so much more. Not everyone in Tallahassee is on Twitter, so I am missing the viewpoint on things from the rest of this community. More people in Tallahassee need to get on Twitter and tweet, share their tweets, and join in on this information highway of micro-blogging. It is fun, and a good sharing experience. I have met very informed people on a number of topics, and gained much knowledge as a result of the pool of tweets on Twitter.

Tallahassee is a good place to live. So many people are connected on line through the various social and business networking sites in cyberspace, and so many are tech savvy, and educated. We have top schools, including Florida State University. We have the renowned Magnate Laboratory, probably the top in the nation. We also have a new technology/research center in the Tallahassee area. How many times have I come across a Florida State University’s research online. Yes, research lives in the air of this community.

People with knowledge are attracted to others for sharing this knowledge and getting feedback, or as they say in the blogging universe, “comments.” On Twitter, you can read opinions, conclusions, links to, and ideas on research projects going on all over. People click the follow button to subscribe to each other’s micro-blogs on Twitter. I have hundreds of followers and I follow hundreds. It is a give and take, share, and share, follow and be followed system.

If you are not on Twitter, and tweeting, it is not too late to sign up for an account, create your profile so others can see who you are, and start following and posting. I hope to read your Tweets as I do my other Tallahassee twittterers.

You can find me on Twitter by going to http://Twitter.com/KenFach .

My Tallahassee Twitter Tip of the Day

Micro-blogging has the potential of being the most commonly way of expressing oneself online. Why? Because you have a limited amount of space to present your message, and people prefer to read short messages and not full-length blogs. The creator of a mini-blog, also has more time to read others’, since less time goes into writing sentence after sentence and editing the work to get it right.

Twitter, which is the most popular micro-blogging platform, and other micro-blogging sites, allow for up to 140 characters. That is not a lot of space, so the writer if forced to work his/her message in a way that it presents what the writer wants presented. It tones and tunes writing skills. For that reason, micro-blogging helps to make us all better writers. The topics that can be written on are countless it seems. Any and everything is presented and discussed through micro-blogging. What makes micro-blogging even better, is that what is presented can also be commented on, and there can be a chain of conversations around an original post.

Have fun twittering and micro-blogging in general. Get your message out, and look forward to comments, and networking enrichment.

Kenneth in Tallahassee.

My Twitter screen name is, KenFach. Care to tweetup with me?

More Tallahassee Real Estate Tweets

More Tallahassee Real Estate Tweets from Kenneth Fach:

 

	Tallahassee needs to see a great reduction in homes for sale so that the market will become normal again. Buyers can find good deals now.about 20 hours ago from web
	Solution to Tallahassee housing market: Discretionary buyers move back into the market and start buying homes. about 20 hours ago from web
	Solution to Tallahassee housing market: Builders reduce the amount of new homes they are building. about 20 hours ago from web
	Solution to Tallahassee housing market: Non-serious Sellers remove their homes from the market. about 20 hours ago from web

The Winners at Florida State University

We were busy, and at it working a concession stand at the Florida State University Football game in Tallahassee, Florida. All for the Boy Scouts of Troop 115. Money made goes to help the scouts in their scouting trips, and adventures.

It was a winning night. Rain storm delayed the game, and lightning stopped the game. We actually did not leave the stadium until 11:30. We had been on our feet since 2:30. I worked the pretzels, stuffed the dogs in the wrappers, wrapped the hamburgers, prepared nachos, and helped to clean up. The fun part is win the rush of fans come over hungry for what they want to buy. Florida State defeated its North Carolina opponent, 69 to 0. Definitely a case of winners versus losers. I am proud to be a Tallahassee resident, and former graduate student of Florida State University. We are a winning community, indeed, in so many ways, not just in athletics. The people here are winners, and the boy scouts are winners. I know. I am the father of a scout. 

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This was before the FSU game. We had to get everything ready in the concession stand a couple hours before game began, at 4:00. Storm caused big time delay however. 

Let the Florida State Seminoles do their thing, and show North Carolina, and the world, that Florida State University owns football. One reason to visit Tallahassee, Florida, among many other reasons, discussed in my other blog posts about Tallahassee, and Lifestyles. 

Here we are, towards the end of the game, and look at the fans. Really, the fans make the game, the readers make the book, the audience makes the show, the customers, make the business, the scouts make the troop. Winners we all are.

Lawns Big Enough for a Garden

I have seen so many homes, and so many yards here in Tallahassee, and elsewhere. What I do not see in the yards, some big, some small, are organic gardens, or any kind of vegetable or fruit garden. What a shame, I would say, since food grown at home, using organics, is fresher, healthy, and richer, than produce bought in the supermarkets. Would it not be nice to follow Thomas Jefferson’s idea for America back in the 1800’s, which was that America would be dotted with organic farms, and most of us would be working in our organic gardens/farms? Many of us did before Big Oil came along. Much of America’s prosperity, and moral development, came as an effect of our simple, small farm, small town, entrepreneurship lifestyle before oil changed all that.

What comes to thought, when thinking about “organic” or “organics?” For me, I think about nature, naturalness, back to basics, home grown, putting the garden to work, not using synthetics, chemicals. An organic garden is a chemical-free garden, if by chemical is meant synthetic chemical, not natural chemicals freely found in nature.

An organic garden is a healthy garden. The soil is not unnaturally tampered with through the introduction of contaminents, pesticides, or chemicals that in nature do not belong there. Before the emergence of the petroleum industry along with our petroleum based agricultural system, everything grown was organic. Prior to the 30’s America was filled with organic gardens, and agricultural models based on sustainable, organic operations.

An organic garden is a location in which vegetables, fruits, flowers, trees, bushes, are grown using nature’s elements of controlling bugs, and other garden critters. It is an open, but controlled ecosystem. Substancially, Organic gardening is about controlling the bug population, so that healthy plants can emerge. In addition to this, and in support of this, organic gardening uses a system of plant rotation, so that the same bugs do not infect the same plants year after year. Compost, and mulch which can include pine needle straw, especially here in Tallahassee, Florida, but also, bark chips, small twigs, paper, and more compost, play a big part in a healthy garden, and healthy soil.  Compost is the garden’s best friend, so it does not hurt to use it in abundance, with the proper balance of nitrogen and carbon inputs. A healthy soil, thanks to nutruient rich compost, and proper working of the soil, along with water, and sunlight inputs, will reduce the unwanted bugs, and insects. Healthy plants keep many of the critters away. Mulch will control water evaporation and absorption, and protect the soil from the hot sun’s rays. Also, attracting birds by putting up bird baths, and bird feeds helps control bug population too. However, some bugs are good, and attack the ones that eat our plants. We want to attract those as well, such as the ladybugs.

I am now about to go back to work in my organic garden, as I always have a rich population of tomatos, peppers, squash, basil, and others. In fact, we have not bought any of this vegetables for over two years. Not one, except for an event we participated in in which we needed a bigger amount of produce than what we had. Overall, we are getting better at organic gardening here in Tallahassee, and hope to be 80 percent vegetable independent within the next three years. Much of that will have to do with how successful we are at composting, and controlling the bugs. Yes, that is the essential task: getting rid of the hungry pests.