Home | Unit 1 | Unit 2 | Unit 3 | Unit 4
Activities
- 2.1 Gratitude Circle
- 2.2 Appreciation in the Garden
- 2.3 Markers of Inspiration
- 2.4 Connecting with Elders
- 2.5 Reading a Seed Packet
- 2.6 Imagine, Plan, Plant
In addition to activities:
- Voices in Food Justice Spotlight: Angela Ferguson in Rematriation Magazine
- Food for Thought
- Project SOW Learning Standards
- Youth Action Project
Download S.O.W. Curriculum Print Friendly PDF here
Introduction
In Unit Two: Gardening with Gratitude, we continue our discovery of stewardship in the garden and learning about the space we are gathering in. We hold a gratitude circle to create space in which youth can give and receive appreciations, and reflect upon how this feels. We extend this appreciation to our gardens with an activity to develop an acknowledgement for our garden space. Connecting with wisdom in the community, youth begin to prepare for interviewing local food elders. The unit ends with investigating what seeds need to thrive and planning out what the garden will be.
Throughout this unit, youth explore what appreciation is, as well as the connection between gratitude, joy, and stewardship. We introduce perspective as to how we can choose to interact with the land, and encourage participants to reflect on relationships, moving from a more extractive or transactional relationship, to one of mutuality and reciprocity.
We encourage the facilitator to read over the unit and curriculum in its entirety before use, since many activities are complementary. This curriculum may at times lead to uncomfortable conversations. It is important to remember as the facilitator, it is okay to experience discomfort, and it is also okay if you do not have all of the answers; in addition, we may not find the answers. When you start to feel uncomfortable, we invite you to pause, slow down, wonder into the nature of the discomfort, and allow some “room” for it. You may not always need to speak or intervene. In fact, allowing for some space in which to reflect is an important part of engaging with justice.
Target Objectives
- Explore the connection between gratitude, joy, and stewardship.
- Practice sharing gratitude with others.
- Reflect on what is important to us and our relationship with land.
- Cultivate intentional awareness through creative expression.
- Build communication and research skills while connecting with others in the local community.
- Investigate what seeds and plants need to thrive.
- Collaborate with group to plan out garden space.