It is about creating a space where birds and insects and fish might like to live because it is safe and there is food. Hands on or experiential learning is an important way to teach and learn about anything. Gardening provides the frame for talking about and experiencing the relationship between humans and the growing, alive world we live in. It is a precious relationship and humans have most of the power to affect it. Learning about this relationship with the plant and animal world also provides and metaphor for learning about human relationships.
People are like plants.
They need food and water and shelter and care. These are hard lessons to teach because there isn't time. We would begin a project like digging the Virginia native plants garden with a lecture from Mr. Baker. It is unfinished and not talked about. I feel it was strange to put so much emphasis on something and then not follow through and not really even explain what it was for.