- What do you like about A Living Library ?
- What is your favorite thing to do in A Living Library ?
- Do you think the work A Living Library does is good for the environment and students ?
These were some of the questions I asked to a group of enthusiastic middle school students working at the OMI / Excelsior Living Library & Think Park, between San Miguel Early Education School and James Denman Middle School, during one of the after school sessions of A.L.L. Green Futures Paid Internship Program. Every Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, these A.L.L. ECO-Stewards engage in STEAM + Literacy, get their hands dirty digging up soil, sowing seeds, identifying weeds, working in the greenhouse, cooking, helping mentor younger students, making art from recycled materials, or just having fun with their friends.
When asked, students replied:
“A Living Library should be in every neighborhood in San Francisco where people can go and have fun.” – Anisha, 7th grader attending the program.
“A Living Library brings more people into gardening; kids learn about gardens while having fun too.” – Milo, 8th grader who is quite knowledgeable about gardening.
“I love digging out weeds, planting new ones, and watering them. But I love cooking the most. Cooking and chopping.” – Jevayla, a dedicated A.L.L. ECO-Steward with A Living Library.
It was the first A.L.L. Class for Sidney and Naima – 6th graders and good friends. When asked, What Does A Living Library mean to you ?, they both answered, “It’s a fun time in fresh air!”
“We do different activities, depending on what is needed in the Gardens. Also, we try to get creative and do interesting projects…teaching students about different soil types, compost layering, processes of decomposition, how to sow and build vertical gardens. The students also learn some woodworking (using jigsaw to cut wood, how to use a drill and other power tools), building benches in the greenhouse, weed identification, sowing seeds, watering, and preparing Gardens for the next season.
In the beginning of the semester, students write down their likes and dislikes in their journals (which they made from recycled paper) to help them have better experiences in the A.L.L. Gardens and Landscapes. Cooking is one of their favorite activities. Last semester, we made rice and lentils. Students learned about growing their own food, nutrition, plant-based diets, and how that prevents disease.” – Erika Garcia, A.L.L. Teacher with OMI /Excelsior Living Library & Think Park.
“The great thing about A Living Library is that the students learn so much: how to identify plants, learn observational skills in the landscape, learn when to plant and how to plant, learn kind of maintenance and care that plants need, and how to respect the environment. Really practical things. We also do cooking projects, kind of a farm-to-table idea; giving people the power to own up the process.” – Jennifer Brandel, A.L.L. Teacher of ECO-Stewards in A.L.L. Green Futures Paid Internship Program.
Stay Tuned for more statements from students and teachers involved with A Living Library and A.L.L. Green Futures Paid Internship Program.
