Harvesting and Growing Experience
Throughout November and December, we harvested a variety of crops including kale, spinach, carrots, beets, Bok Choy, turnips, Mizuna, lettuce, arugula, Asian greens, cilantro, mint, and radish.
32 out of 34 classes in the school participated in garden activities from August to December, and many of them harvested crops. However, I was curious to know how many of them aware that we had planted the carrot seeds in early September.
Harvesting is exciting and rewarding, and I enjoy seeing it. However, I believe that it would be even more fulfilling for our learners if they were to take part in everystep of the process, from preparing the soil to harvesting and caring for the plants daily. This way, they would have many memorable experiences with the plants leading up to the harvest.
When Is The Critical Time?
When the garden looks beautiful, many people like to visit it. However, I believe the most critical time is when the soil has no plants.
If you don’t plant seeds in the soil, vegetables don’t grow there. Whether you act or not depends on how you view the land – as barren or full of possibilities. The more opportunities you can see, the more you will take care of it.
I also believe that taking action needs creativity and agriculture fosters it. I feel most excited when I see a site with no plants, as it offers a lot of potential. When kids plan for planting, they can envision the future of the land. After planting seeds, they must wait for the plants to sprout. If the seeds don’t germinate, they have to do that again. Therefore, garden education can promote creativity and resilience through growing experiences.
By experiencing the entire growing process from start to finish, kids can fully appreciate the joy of harvesting the fruits of their labor.
