What a Difference a Day Makes

We returned to the school this morning to complete our garden project and were amazed with how different our experience felt as compared to yesterday’s visit to the school. When we arrived this morning, the plan was to add fertilizer to the soil, water, and plant the seeds. Our idea was to work with the director to select a small group of kids who could help plant the seeds and learn from our community expert, Don Tilo, who is Yolanda’s husband.

When we arrived, we went right to work and a few kids came to help us clean the remaining rocks and trash from the garden bed. We quickly realized that there are many obstacles to a successful project. Water was needed to wet the soil, but there was no power in the area. “No hay luz” is an expression that is often heard to indicate that the power is out. When there is “no light”, then there is no way to pump water. So we worked with local community members to pump water by hand to continue the project. We knew that when it was time for recess, hundreds of kids would descend on the garden. Yesterday, we were disappointed when kids would run through the garden and would continue to dispose of trash. Even just one day later, we were amazed at the difference. Not a single kid walked through the garden, each of them delicately walking around the edges and scolding their friends if someone placed a foot on the bed. We also noticed that kids weren’t throwing trash today and seemed very attentive to the project.

After classes resumed, we worked with a small group to plant the seeds—parsley, radishes, and carrots. Don Tilo explained to this group of boys how important it is for them to care for the garden and to serve as role models for the younger kids who may not know how to care for the plants. He gave them more seeds to plant on their own, once they see the progress of this small plot. The boys paid careful attention to his wise words and seemed eager to sustain the garden. Another group of students joined some of our teachers to plant sunflowers in various spots around the school to beautify the grounds and make for a more welcoming environment. They carefully worked together to design a space where the flowers could be appreciated by students and visitors alike.

When we left the school today, we felt as though this project might actually be sustainable. To see the difference from Day 1 to Day 2 in how children were treating the garden and participating in its construction was both humbling and energizing. I think all teachers agreed that the relationships we created yesterday and the efforts made to include the community truly paid off. We were able to step back and watch a community leader, Don Tilo, work directly with the school children to ensure the success of the garden.

Tonight, we will have our final going away party to thank the host families for their amazing hospitality. We hope to share some guest blog posts tomorrow so that you can learn more about the diverse families that welcomed our teachers for the last few nights.

Videos: preparing the garden bed for seeds