Entrance slip: UBC orchard Garden and Cultivating Learning network

This article” UBC Orchard Garden and Cultivating Learning Network” by Susan “Gerofsky” (our dearest prof) reinforces the importance of sustenance of the environment. We as teachers can be the crucial part of the multidisciplinary, integrate with the intellectuals of other study areas to build school gardens in our schools and make this as central importance of school such that it is not only beneficial for providing the organic food for our school but also from teaching and learning perspectives.

Things that made me stop:

“In the outdoor, the living world teaches and inspires us”.

Treat the gardens as your co-teachers and treat the soil, plants, forests as our learning resource. This will build empathetic relations with the environment, and I believe that we do not harm the ones with whom we have a loving relationship. So, it is very important to build the connections between students and nature such that our new generation knows the values of preserving the environment. I remember from my childhood; we had a beautiful garden in the center of the school but the sad part was we were only allowed to see at a distance but were not allowed to go inside and enjoy the serenity. We did not have any chance of having an outdoor education but one of my biology teachers, took us to field trip at CIPHET (Central institute of post-harvest engineering and technology), we explored the different types of plants grown and fruits and vegetables processed to use in different items. We also had a healthy lunch made out of fresh organic foods. That experience is still instilled in my memories.

I was fascinated by the thought of forming an embodied way to track the course of the sun throughout the garden year. It is so beneficial for the young learners, new teachers to realize that everything in nature is so interrelated and we can increase our awareness and knowledge by sharing with each other, which is really rewarding in itself.

Although, it was not astonishing for me when the land is viewed as commercial real estate for personal interests and I have come across such incidents in India, where the big farmlands were acquired for the urbanization and commercialization, but no steps were taken to connect the people with nature. But I really feel fortunate that I am here on this beautiful land and will put in efforts to enhance and sustain its beauty.

As a science and math teacher, I can help them to understand the projectile motion while playing with a ball in the garden, newtons laws, forces due to gravity, how will the force of gravity affect the two free fall bodies (one leaf and another one fruit) of different masses. I can also introduce the concept of waves by asking them what will they notice if they throw a pebble in the pond, and then extend the conversation to the different types of waves longitudinal and transverse. There cannot be a better place other than the garden to teach the students the different parts of the plants and the flower. I can also help them to understand the adequate amount of sunlight, water, nutrients required for the proper growth of plants by growing the plants in different settings and let the students figure out the different results if any. Students can be prompted to inquire about the different patterns they notice in the garden. For instance, Sunflower forms a Fibonacci spiral, branches of many trees are in the Fibonacci sequence. Moreover, one finds peace, calmness and feels relaxed in the beautiful atmosphere of the gardens hence, students can get relieved from stress by speaking their hearts out to their friends and teachers. This furthers strengthens the bond between the students and also with the teachers.

I am very inspired by the collective effort of various educational bodies, students from different study areas, faculty members and seek to be a part of such an organization and participate actively for the betterment of our ecosystem.