Everyone and everything on Earth and in Space is part of A Living Library of diversity: people, birds, trees, air, water, and all the things we create, such as - parks, gardens, schools, curricula, artworks, networks, communities, celebrations. A Living Library, or, A.L.L., for short, provides a way to understand that culture and technology are part of nature. It’s all nature.
A Living Library provides a powerful systemic framework, multiple methodologies and strategies for creating place-based, ecological change in communities and schools - locally and globally.
A.L.L. integrates local resources - past, present, future - and transforms them with community, to become vibrant, content-rich, art-filled, ecological learning landscapes; each Branch linked to another.
Student Stewards in the A.L.L. Green Futures After School Program from James Denman Middle School review diverse kinds of soils and learn how to make Seed Balls to give as Holiday Gifts, begin a new garden, or add to an existing one. Watch the video below to learn how !
On January 2, all the Kindergarten and 1st Grade Students from Roosevelt Island's PS/IS 217 had a lively discussion with Bonnie Ora Sherk about the meaning and metaphor of A Living Library. Students were asked what they thought would be in A Living Library and answered that all kinds of animals and plants are part of A Living Library. They delighted in calling out all their favorite animals and plants. The children also learned that the initials of A Living Library are A.L.L., and that humans are also part of A.L.L., as well as the things people create, such as: parks, gardens, schools, libraries, artworks, communities, and celebrations. Students then called out and discussed other things that are part of A.L.L.
Children folded a large piece of paper in two, and created their own A Living Library Book, adding their favorite images and words using craypas and pencils. Have a look at their brilliant art and writing !
2nd Grade students from San Miguel Child Development Center planted Daffodil and Tulip Bulbs along the fence in the Upper Garden. The children did a great job and the bulbs will add great beauty to the OMI/Excelsior Living Library & Think Park when they are blooming this Spring!
In honor of Tu Bishvat, the holiday celebrating trees and nature, young adults of the Jewish Community Federation worked diligently with Life Frames, Inc. and SF Recreation & Park Department on Sunday, January 12th to plant California native plants on the hillside next to the Oak Allee in St. Mary's Park, as part of the Bernal Heights Living Library Nature Walk. About 200 natives were planted amongst the beautiful Coast Live Oaks (Quercus agrifolia). The Nature Walk is growing !
Volunteers planted all California Natives: Ceanothus (Ceanothus griseus horizontalis 'Yankee Point' and Ceanothus 'Ray Hartman'), Coast Live Oak (Quercus agrifolia), Fremontodendron (Fremontodendron californicum), and Matilija Poppy (Romneya coulteri).
The Bernal Heights Living Library Nature Walk links schools, parks, public housing, streets, and other open spaces leading to the currently hidden Islais Creek at the south side of St. Mary's Park. The Nature Walk is creating a new, expressive, narrative landscape that is a prototype for what could be occurring throughout the whole Islais Creek Watershed, the largest in San Francisco, that interlinks eleven neighborhoods: Noe Valley, Mission, Bernal Heights, Potrero Hill, Bayview, Portola, Crocker-Amazon, Excelsior, OMI, Sunnyside, Glen Park.
More volunteer events are coming up on January 17th and 28th at St. Mary's Park, and January 18th at Holly Park. If you would like to participate, or for more information about volunteer planting days, please contact us: info@alivinglibrary.org
FOR MIDDLE & HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH: A unique, hands-on, After-School, PAID, Green Internship Opportunity to work with the OMI/Excelsior Branch Living Library & Think Park this WINTER / SPRING 2014, while learning Green Skills, plus more !
See flyer and applications for more information.
A Living Library, Life Frame, Think Park, & A.L.L. are registered trademarks
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