Activities
Leading with the 12 permaculture principles and 3 ethics (care for earth care for people and fair share), we immerse young learners in the following activities to help them reconnect with nature, become environmental stewards, and learn how to coexist in harmony with all.
1. Visits to farms, rooftop gardens, and community gardens (and yes, we will harvest what we can)
We learn about urban gardening, accessing fresh produce and experience growing food in diverse settings.
2. Cooking with familiar and unfamiliar ingredients / discovering new cuisines and exploring new tastes from around the world
We learn how to appreciate different flavors--this is an important part in learning about the myriad cultures around the world and how they use various plants in their diet. Picky eaters will no longer be picky!
3. Creating herbal remedies and natural skincare products such as lip balm, salves and moisturizer using organic and fairly traded botanical ingredients
As an herbalist and formulator I bring my expertise in healing with herbs to teach young learners about the amazing benefits of plants. Seeing how they can be used in so many ways, I hope to ignite a deeper love and appreciation for nature.
4. Gardening & harvesting
We will be working in our own garden bed--learning about the important roles of microorganisms, soil health, and the intricate we of connections that make for healthy soil. This is an important part in learning about why and how we should caring for the earth. Best of all we grow our own vegetables and herbs to take home to you!
5. Upcycling/ refurbishing
Reducing waste is one of the permaculture principles. Expanding on our creative senses we find new uses for things that would have otherwise been trashed.
6. Preparing fermented foods and drinks
We learn about the wonderful ways we can care for our health in a sustainable, ecological and delicious way. This truly allows students to see how humans and nature are meant to coexist in harmony!
7. Concocting infusions and tinctures
More fun things to create to deliver the lesson above.
8. Dyeing with fruits and vegetables
Use biological vs synthetic is another permaculture principle that affirms the importance of reducing our dependence on hazardous chemicals as they pose a serious risk to the health of living organisms of this earth. Dyeing with fruits and veggies we learn how to use earth-friendly ingredients in a eco-conscientious way.
9. Taking action on social issues that affect local and global access to food
It doesn't suffice to simply know things. Change comes with action. Taking responsibility and owning our actions is a huge step towards bettering this world. Here we learn how to identify problems and create solutions with and for those who are negatively affected by food insecurity/ food injustice.
10. Designing for eco-friendly spaces and small service projects to help underserved communities
We learn about the permaculture principles and ethics to recreate mini systems that work, to get young learners to see and experience what kind of thought goes into creating designs that work for all.
11. Plant Identification and Foraging
We spend lots of time in parks connecting with nature and learning about the beneficial plants.
