Always in Bloom

While we waited for it to get warm enough to execute our vision in the School Garden, we studied color theory & mixing along with basic elements of design & pattern. I wanted to ensure each student felt empowered to contribute to the design and execition of the picnic tables even if they didn’t consider themselves an artist. Once the creative juices were flowing, we started brainstorming and designing the imagery for the new garden picnic tables so we’d be ready to get building the second the weather was ready.

Once spring hit, the students were eager to get out in the garden and bring their tables to life while the garden was blooming around us. I was working with students from both the Art Enrichment Class and the Garden Internship from the Urban Assembly School for Green Careers. This meant that not only were the students busy getting creative in their garden- they were also tending to their soil, irregating & planting flowers, fruits, & vegetables, and being busy beekeepers haversting their own honey. To see the collaboration between teenagers growing their own organic food right smack in the middle of New York City while building & painting their own tables-was an incredibly inspiring project to be a part of. While I learn from my students with every project I work on, I definitely learned more new skills from them then they did from me! They took me through the entire honey harvesting process and they were able to jar and sell it right from their new honey themed table to the surrounding comunity. And they sold out fast! They also provided me with tomato and pepper seedlings to plant in my own urban garden. I am happy to report, because of their guidance and from watching how they tended to their plants, I was able to grow my own vegetables without killing them for the very first time in my life. If you know me, that’s a big deal. Chapter 2 of the garden project continues into 2020 and we are currently working on our design to install the mosaic around the koi fish pond when the weather is ready for us!