The Nature of Nature
Nichole Lupo
Working with kids outside is always an interesting experience. The things they say, the things they notice that I don’t always see, the beauty they witness in even the most mundane or seemingly ordinary things, definitely serve as a reminder that we all bring our unique perspective and set of expectations to any given situation. Working with food plants and kids provides a wonderful opportunity to explore these ideas and perspectives, all the while developing many of the life skills we need to function effectively in the world.
The students ask some pretty unusual questions when contemplating what is to come from the seeds or seedlings going in the ground. The older students usually have an idea of what is to come in terms of the work involved and the time it may take to produce something edible. This isn’t always true, of course, but for the most part, they understand pretty clearly that there is an order to things, and that our role is simply a supporting one—providing what we can to ensure our plants’ survival, and knowing when to leave well enough alone. The little ones, however, usually follow a planting with a question that goes something like this….”Is it time to eat yet?!” Little do they know that while we are waiting to eat, we are developing patience and learning to value things that take time—without fail, they always say it was worth the wait! When we are putting those delicate seedlings in the ground, we are practicing teamwork, organization, and learning to collaborate with others to work toward a common goal. We are learning to care for and nurture something living, so that we, too, may live. We are learning to persevere, because it takes dedication and a strong commitment to work so hard for something that is not guaranteed. Yes, it’s true. The ultimate lesson in the garden is that it really isn’t up to us. We are at the mercy of mighty Mother Nature, and she always has the final say.
We are fortunate to live in a climate that provides the possibility of growing food year-round. We organize successive plantings throughout the school year in an effort to demonstrate this wonderful characteristic of the place we call home. Students begin to fully appreciate the seasonality of plant foods as they remove warm weather plants in favor of things that prefer cooler temperatures and shorter days—something so important now that we live in an age of any food, anytime, anywhere in the world. They notice the changing weather and start to comprehend that these things are related in a way that is cyclical, timeless, and has absolutely nothing to do with us. And yet again, plants don’t always equal food. There is a lesson in everything that takes place in the garden, and failure is an invaluable part of that learning. All the hard work in the world doesn’t necessarily mean that we will be feasting on delicious veggies in 60, 75, or 90 days. This might be the greatest lesson of all.
My favorite part of any school day is planting with kids. As an educator, I learn so much from my students, and I can only pray they learn half that much from their experiences working with food and nature. My greatest teacher, however, has been Mother Nature herself. On any given day, I am humbled by her power, inspired by her promise, and encouraged to know that there is a reason for everything, even if we don’t see it at the time.
