Small Journal; Large Project
Journaling is a way to reveal thoughts and spark new ideas. At the start of a new project, dedicating a journal to the process assists in identifying goals, prioritizing tasks, and recording the overall process for future projects.
A Garden Biology Course
For years I have been daydreaming about developing and teaching a course that used local gardens as labs for learning about science. The links between science discovery and garden practices are so strong that this type of course practically writes itself. Exploration, description, and explanation are processes gardeners regularly use to solve problems. The garden can also be a microcosm of the larger world; an opportunity to model positive human interactions with the natural world. To get a feel for the curriculum forming in my mind, I created a Garden Biology journal.
Over the years I have collected many pieces of garden ephemera, including plant tags, seed packets, and garden catalogs. These went into the journal, along with some of the garden-related photos and art pieces I’ve made over the years. To link these past experiences with a new course, I added thoughts and sketches of lab, lecture, and text ideas.
