Children in the Garden

Watering is always a favourite activity.

When Hippo School parents and caregivers came to pick up their children on May 19th, they were met with an entire Crew of gardeners removing the last remaining grass from the Children’s Garden. Construction in the school entranceway combined with electrical work by the city had left little behind along the railing, compromising the teaching and learning space.

With the Tuesday morning Noojimo’iwewin Gitigaan program moving into planting season, the regular Garden Crew jumped at the offer of help from Professor Lorraine Johnson’s visiting Urban Habitats & Restoration Ecology students from York University.

The day began with Garden Educator Maya Ferguson-Klinowski leading the children through the process of planting, watering, and spelling “Amaranth.” They also learned the big word “broadcasting” for the action of simply scattering tiny seeds across the soil. Watering came next, always a beloved activity. Finally becoming a “seed” then growing up, up, up towards the sun reminded the children of how plants grow, and the soil, sun, water, and love required. “I sign up for Tuesdays as my ‘duty day,’” one mother said later, “because I love the garden program so much.”

By 2 p.m. the first of the York students began to arrive, with the Circle growing ever wider as we moved into the afternoon’s program, beginning with a Four Directions Smudge and a sharing of some of the Teachings received from Anishinaabe, Haudenosaunee, and other Elders that form the Indigenous knowledge base on which Noojimo’iwewin Gitigaan is founded. Small groups then toured the different garden spaces, with Co-Leads Vanessa Barnes, Robin Buyers, and Preston Walberg sharing their passion for stewarding this Sacred place. We spoke of building soil with decaying organic matter, minimizing European species, and bringing back biodiversity in plant and insect life.

The afternoon grew hot, but the students were keen to get their hands dirty, creating a reciprocal relationship as is respectful of Indigenous protocols. Compost Lead Monica Meeson arrived, and a decision was taken to prepare the grass for the compost pile. Professor Lorraine Johnson reinforced just how much grass removal those practicing restoration ecology will need to undertake, since grass degrades the soil underneath. Cedar mulch that will slowly decay to nurture the soil will now create a second playground surface akin to that next to the Bracondale Courtyard.

“These were self-selected, purpose-driven people who came alive at an opportunity to be involved,” said Preston later. “One of the students offered to stay longer, not wishing to leave while the assigned job was unfinished. Another was wearing a heavy black jacket and working hard in that heat, sweating. I joked that he was allowed to remove his jacket—yet he was so intent on getting the work done. A third, wearing white pants, was oblivious to getting dirty. So much laughter and comradery, at 30 degrees in the sun doing labour…not the vibe I was expecting!”

“What beautiful youth,” reflected guest Deb O’Rourke, President of a Housing Co-op that received Pollinate TO funding this year. “Many thanks for the humbling and strengthening Teachings.” Professor Johnson offered the greatest compliment: “For some of these students, today will have been life-changing.”

A young woman wearing a Kenya bracelet was the last to leave. She talked about her childhood on the outskirts of Nairobi, of how she misses the connection with the Land she felt playing in her backyard, not in a designated park or playground as so many children do here. Whether for little ones or young adults, seniors and everyone in between, Noojimo’iwewin Gitigaan offers a different experience. We think these children will be all right.