Gaden Club

Gardens truly do teach us so much. Gardening teaches valuable lessons about patience, hard work, and the natural cycles of life, showing that growth requires consistent effort and that setbacks are a normal part of the process. Beyond these, gardening fosters curiosity, problem-solving skills, and an appreciation for nature.

• Patience: Plants grow at their own pace, teaching that significant results take time and consistent nurturing.
• Effort and perseverance: Success requires continuous effort like watering and weeding, and it reinforces the idea of not giving up when things are difficult.
• Natural cycles: You observe the seasons, the life and death of plants, and the interconnectedness of nature, from weather to insects.
• Adaptability: Gardening is a constant learning process, and you must be prepared to adapt to unexpected challenges like pests or weather changes.
• Nurturing and care: It shows the direct results of caring for something, highlighting that intentional nurturing leads to growth and beauty.
• Curiosity and problem-solving: You learn to ask questions about how things grow and solve problems, such as why a plant isn't thriving.
• "Weeding out" the negative: The act of removing weeds can be a metaphor for getting rid of negative thoughts or draining commitments in your own life.
• Finding balance: Gardening teaches that too much of a good thing, like water or sun, can be harmful, illustrating the importance of balance.
• Mindfulness and sensitivity: It can lead to a greater awareness of the present moment and heighten your senses through experiences like smelling herbs or feeling textures.
• Creativity and experimentation: Gardens offer a creative outlet to try new things and learn what works in a specific space.
• Community: It can be a shared activity that improves social skills and fosters a sense of community, whether with family, friends, or a local gardening group.

It is this last one, community, that we are incredibly grateful for at the moment. The Avila girls have been coming on Wednesday afternoons to help us weed and plant and we now have tomato plants growing alongside our cabbage, cauliflower, mint and raspberries. We propagated the carrots because they were a bit bent, however, it was lovely to see their purple tones amongst the orange. It is a fantastic community partnership and the children love chatting with the Avila girls.

Please come along if you would like to on Wednesday afternoons at recess, from @1:50pm to 2:20pm.