We are currently hiring a full-time Garden Teacher, and should have a decision on our new member of the Garden team by 2nd week of September. We have some really great candidates!

Our previous garden teacher, Paul, has chosen to stay on as a Substitute while he explores a new career in Environmental Studies. He has three years of experience in outdoor education on the Navajo Nation, where he worked with K-12 students on land restoration and sustainable farming. Paul has also cultivated gardens and worked on farms for many years, and he holds a doctorate in Environmental Studies.

Our Garden assistant Maeve, has been an amazing addition to our team, that we even made a position for her that didn't exist prior to meeting her. She comes with a wonderful sense of hard-working and drive. Prior to Unity she worked on a ranch tending to the garden and taking care of the animals. She also is joining the Butterfly class this year as their assistant in the afternoons.

Dani, the program director, oversees the garden and provides weekly assistance. Dani’s love for gardening started in early adulthood, exploring medicinal herbs and flowers, and she quickly began gardening, with 20 years of experience. For her, it was a passion; she was completely self-taught, with guidance from family members and friends along the way, and she geeks out on medicinal plant and flower books. She loves using everything she grows to make bath and body products, teas, salves, and tinctures. And she loves doing it for fundraising at Unity too!
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Dani completed a year-long training program called Tend, Gather, Grow, which we now use in conjunction with HighScope in the garden. The Tend, Gather, Grow curriculum focuses on native agriculture and the reintroduction of traditional first foods into gardens. It is rooted in principles of respect for the land and emphasizes the importance of giving back. Additionally, this curriculum integrates numerous social-emotional learning lessons into the gardening experience.

Our outdoor activities are designed to strengthen our connections with the plants and animals in the garden. We practice honorable harvesting by asking permission from the plants and leaving behind a small token of gratitude, such as a spoken “thank you.” We only take small amounts and share our harvest with friends. Each classroom participates in garden time once a week, which starts with a welcoming garden song. After the song, we discuss the day’s lesson, followed by time for discovery, exploration, planting, and harvesting activities.

Fun activities for children in the garden include creating delicious recipes in the mud kitchen, setting up fairy homes in the fairy garden, and participating in seasonal gardening tasks such as planting, harvesting, raking, and watering. They will also learn about plants, life cycles, and stewardship of the land. 

Soon, we will teach the children about water conservation because Unity has been awarded a grant from UWSCWD. In September, we will install two 2,500-gallon water catchment systems in the back of the garden. Additionally, one-quarter of our property will be dedicated to Pacific Northwest native plant ecosystems, which we will plant simultaneously. We are also excited to offer lessons taught by Native guest educators, all made possible by UWSCWD’s environmental education grant.

There are countless opportunities for children to learn and play in the garden. They explore, ask questions, engage in collaborative play, relax, and develop a deeper love for nature and the Earth.