permaculture and kids?

[umami_mommy]

need resources on teaching kids about permaculture through activities and exercises.

anyone got any... google didn't come through for me.

[ollyoxenfree]

Stephanie Alexander's Kitchen Garden program is impressive. It's school-based, so I'm not sure if you will find it helpful, but you can check out the website. I like her Kitchen Garden Cooking with Kids cookbook, which has information about the program, and she has a DVD available as a resource for anyone who wants to start a similar program.

[umami_mommy]

is it permi/organic based? i was disappointed that EVERY SINGLE gardening for kids book in the library was conventionally based. i am now considering writing a book on permaculture and kids.

[zoe196]

I'll buy it if you write it! I don't know of anything geared toward kids-- I kind of hope that by living with a permaculture mama, my kiddo will learn that way-- I see permaculture as mostly (not so) common sense and it's unfortunate that we (humans) have deviated so far off the path of common sense that it takes something like permaculture to guide us back.

Zoe, mama to Thomas 1/06

[ollyoxenfree]

Yes, the school garden is organic. The kids are taught to cook with the produce from the garden. They also keep hens.

The cookbook has a chapter about Permaculture, which has a chart of themes and activities: eg. under "Bugs and Other Beings of the Garden", she lists:

snail hunts
snail races
setting snail traps
pear-cherry snail investigations
insect identification
insect drawing
applying organic methods of pest management
observing the creatures

The gardening/agriculture information is fairly brief. She's a noted chef, so the emphasis is on the cooking rather than the gardening.

Alice Waters' The Edible Schoolyard is a similar idea. I don't own her books, but I have flipped through them. They are not as glossy and child-friendly as Alexander's, which I bought for the purpose of having a attractive, child-friendly cookbook.

I think your own book is a great idea. There's a definite need and a market. Good luck with the project.

[ollyoxenfree]

BTW, did you google "sustainable living" or "green living" and "children"? There are more resources that come up with those search terms than "permaculture". I didn't look too closely, so I'm not sure how helpful they are for your purposes. I realize that permaculture is a specific topic.

Again, good luck.

[ambersrose]

I have found the local permaculture community to not be children friendly. The groups will only allow "quiet, well behaved children" to attend their meetings (mine are 2 and 6). The local permaculture farms only allow children to observe on certain days and there is not much education or participation for the kids. It has been disappointing. Even for me, the classes are super expensive and not geared towards anyone with a family.

[umami_mommy]

i'm sorry to hear that. how about starting your own permi adventure group for kids?

i'm sure there are other people in your area who have loud, unruly kids who would love to dig in the dirt!