Orchard Garden CFE Day 13: Paint, Prep, Print, Ponder, Practice

 A Salute to the Skies!

Starting the day off right in the garden, we took a look at the signs which were dried off from yesterday’s coating of Varathane. Cutting and adding some posts to the back of the Guerilla gardening signs, we got them ready for planting in the garden beside Scarfe!  Next, we harvested the sun and good weather, using it to help our paint dry! Nicole worked on prepping little legacy sign for the garden, following what the 2019 Orchard Garden team left, by painting a brick. We wanted to leave a love letter in physical form to hold things down in future. The team then finished up the Geurilla signs with another coat of Varathane, and letting it bake in the sun for ultimate protection from the elements. In that waiting period, practice braiding for the workshop was done; I made a flower crown (super cute, right?)!!

 

 

 

Don’t be a Bug… Okay Maybe Bee One, That’s Cool!

 

Although the team would consider Dr. Susan Gerofsky, and Madi the foundation on which the garden rests, we decided to lay a brick down. We went for garden themed (duh!) with 4 bugs representing the CFE students, and 3 plants representing our knowledge keepers and teachers! The Lady Bug is Lorilie, the Snail is Nicole, the Bee is Sally, and the Butterfly is Me B). The Chive flower, Pea Flower, and Nootka Rose are Susan, Madi, and Nicolás (guess which one is which, we’ll never tell)! Around the sides of the brick we painted our names, just so no one forgets. We all shared the duty of painting, so our Picassos and Rembrandts could share the canvas. We are bugs because we are simply visitors passing by, helping grow the garden but ultimately fleeting. Susan, Madi, and Nicolás are plants, as they are rooted in the garden (pun totally intended). We also opted to do some weeding, as the morning glory was choking out some of our food forest plants!

 

                        

Stabbing Wooden Stakes (sans Count Dracula)

 

After painting we had lunch and headed off to the Scarfe building. Our next task was transporting the signs to the Guerilla garden. We found a space to put the signs but didn’t have hammers, and so we tried our water bottles. What worked instead was simply sitting on the signs, as our weight was enough to sink them into the garden bed. I have said multiple times a saying which is used often as a joke in Tech and Trades work, “anything is a hammer if you try hard enough”. Today, anything truly was a hammer, as we used ourselves as hammers. Often this can be a safety hazard (please do not thing anything like glass can be used to strike surfaces, not everything is a hammer), but, in this scenario it was simply resourceful! To commemorate this rare opportunity, I wrote a poem:

 

We found a spot to plot our plans in our plot 

Planted the stakes in the soil. 

 

The two signs met the earthen bed

Ready to meet their earthly role .

 

The hammers were missing, egads, oh no!

Our canteens went toe-to-toe,

 

But it turns our butts were the hammer in stead

Quickly easing this mortal coil.

 

-       Poem by [redacted], AKA Ian Jackart

 

Multi-line Meandering and Border Budgeting with The Serif Sheriffs!

 

In Scarfe, working on the printable material for Saturday’s workshop. Yesterday’s test print wasn’t fully successful, and so we had to adjust the formatting and margins on our handout. Lorilie then prepped and cut out lists of garden plants which could be possible sign options, intended to be handed out to workshop learners. The team printed out a colour copy and then black and white copies of the workshop handout, and we were done for the day!

 

A Soliloquy on our Sunshine

 

I think it’s often forgotten how much can be one in life with something that is free. Although it can take more time, harnessing every ounce of what you can squeeze from the world around you (in non-destructive ways) is a positive mindset. As teachers we often have to do this, making our opus out of thoughts, sweat, and community. The use of the sun today, and the group work we were able to do in unison really highlights this resourcefulness. I need to remember in my practice to not always take the easier route, it takes more thought, but much of the world around us is full of wonder and energy. In my experience, outdoor educators are often the main proponents of this style of pedagogy in one way or another. Harnessing that to reach our goals is key, as budget is continually working against us. 

 

 

(Nootka Rose and Teeny Tiny Baby Snail for your viewing pleasure)

            As this is my final solo blog post, I am saddened to say this is 3^rd and final week at the Garden. I could have easily done 10 weeks here! Alas, we come to an endpoint, ushering in the arrival of the Elementary/Middle years cohort, and our upcoming Saturday workshop. It is interesting to feel this feeling again, as in my long practicum it felt so abrupt, to leave so many students who I have built connections with through teaching. The learning environment feels the same, and I’m sure as a teacher I will feel this many more times as I move along with my career and students graduate. All you can do is your best, and hope that you have made an impact. That the people and places you leave an impression on take what parts of you which you shared and use them as tools to better their and other’s futures. 

I noticed Nicole shared a quote in the last post, so I will share one that resonates with me, regarding the elements:

    "May the wind under your wings bear you where the sun sails and the moon walks"

        - Gandalf to the Eagles (J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit)