Hands, doodling and unlocking the ears and mind

I’m sitting in the log circle with my colleagues. It used to be the oak circle. It’s spring and we are sitting here more. Taking in the changes and the Sun. Underneath feet are chips of bark. Piles of piles. Worms upon worms, enjoying the feast. 

My hands make moves in the earth, ready to form the small Structures and Patterns. 

We often do it. Hasan is building next to me. Has he made a bridge? We are doodling in the ground. As I move, my ears are tuning to the conversation in a different way. I enabled my listening skills. But I’m sorry if this annoys the people talking. It’s certainly also a skill to be able to speak and not be bothered by the movements around you. 

A few weeks laster, I watch the Primary School children listen Georgie Balch, Community and Education Gardener, tell a story. We are blessed to be able to hear it - she brings the words to life in our ears and eyes. The children move their hands, they find the chip. It doesn't stop Georgie, maybe it distracts her? Anyhow, she carries on, seemingly unbothered by the movement (the fidgeting). Are they listening? Of course they are taking in the words, as they move their hands to the calls of the earth. Maybe thats the purpose of the story? 

I ask the children to make images out of things they find in the garden of the descriptions they heard in the story. Before we know it, their creations require the dismantling of the dead head that Seth loving built. They build growing tall cities. Wood is structural, and strong, and the children experiment. And what magical creations they can conjure, when given the space and air to do so. “More time to do this, please teacher” I hear their hands say loudly as they line up ready to go back to the walled classroom. 

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Notes from the Garden