abundant life- garden tools-april 2013€¦ · buckets, shovels, rakes, and even garden hoses –...

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Garden Tools

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A license to print, reproduce, and share these materials is given to individuals and organizations who wish to use these materials to engage others with the work and mission of Episcopal Relief &

Development in healing a hurting world.

Interactive Scripture-based instructional programs offered to parishes, teachers, families and others who seek to share the

ministry of Episcopal Relief & Development

2 Garden Tools Abundant Life Garden Project

Notes for Parents and TeachersBy Cynthia CoeGarden tools have been used by human beings for thousands of years to produce more abundant harvests and more abundant life. The simple garden tools we might take for granted – trowels, buckets, shovels, rakes, and even garden hoses – make our tasks of growing food easier and more productive. We dig holes for planting, weed or prune our gardens, protect our hands from injuries and harvest our produce when it is ripe.

In this module of Abundant Life Garden Project resource materials, we focus on the importance of simple tools for use in making our efforts and our harvests more abundant. Those living in extreme poverty in our world may more effectively feed themselves, their families, and their communities through the use of plows, hand tools, water irrigation systems and bee keeping equipment.

While focus in this unit is on literal garden tools, we might also think about other types of “tools” used to make food supplies more abundant for those living in poverty. “Tools” like microloans, vocational and literacy training, reforestation programs, engine powered machinery, and agricultural knowledge are all important tools that, when shared, lead to more abundant life for all.

Older youth and adults might, as they explore this unit, also think about “tools” in the metaphorical sense. What “tools” do all of us need to grow into the people God meant us to be? What assistance do those living in poverty need for more abundant life? What tools do we have to share, and how might all kinds of “tools” – knowledge, funding, technology, raw materials – be harvested and shared among the human family?

Finally, “tools” might also be explored in the spiritual sense. We might ponder what garden tools we need to plant the seeds of spiritual formation and growth towards the imitation of Christ. We might ponder what tools our faith communities might need to speak in prophetic voices, seek and serve Christ in others, and to truly share in the breaking of the break and the apostles’ teachings. We might ponder what abundant life and the coming of the kingdom of heaven might mean for this garden we call earth, our island home.

The use of tools is at the crux of cultivation, and thus at the crux of humanity itself. We are able to make objects out of wood, metal, and other raw materials and form them into aids for making life more productive and more abundant. We are able to work with God’s creation to satisfy our own needs and to serve others. We are able to step into the role of stewards of nature and create gardens, rather than wilderness.

We hope this lesson will be enjoyable and enriching for those taking part in this program. Your feedback and suggestions would be greatly appreciated and will help us serve you better. Please share your use of Abundant Life Garden Project resources by filling out and returning the survey included at the end of this lesson. Thank you!

3 Abundant Life Garden Project Garden Tools

Abundant Life Garden Project Garden Tools

Introduction

This module of Abundant Life Garden Project resources focuses on garden tools, particularly hand tools and non-motorized equipment used in family, parish or community gardens. This unit presents uses of garden tools from both the Old Testament and New Testament of the Bible, introduces elements of the Book of Common Prayer to young children, and engages them in linking these stories and concepts to the urgent needs of others near their homes and around the world.

Objectives

This lesson will:

» Recall or introduce the use of tools in the Bible, in the Book of Common Prayer and on our farms and gardens

» Provide a time of quiet reflection and listening to God in silence

» Provide children with experiential learning in receiving gifts of animals and in exploring the uses of tools in enabling families to better feed themselves and others, thereby helping to heal a hurting world

» Motivate children to be a part of seeking and serving Christ in others through the gift and use of tools

Photo courtesy of Episcopal School of Knoxville


The Plan

This lesson includes several activities from which you may choose for your own lesson plan. While this structure is recommended, you are free to tailor these materials to the needs of your group.

» The activities in this lesson include:

» An Opening Question

» A Litany of Thanks

» A Meditation

» A Story from the Field

» A Group Learning Exercise

» Small Group or Individual Studies

» Closing Reflections and Prayer

For more information and tips on using each of these activities, please see Appendix B: Teaching Tips of Abundant Life Garden Project program resources, available at www.episcopalrelief.org/children.

Materials List

You will need these minimal materials and resources:

» 3 large blank writing surfaces (chalk board, bulletin board, paper, poster boards) » A supply of all-purpose blank white paper (enough for each person to have three to five

sheets); several stacks of stick-on note paper » A plentiful supply of crayons, washable markers or colored pencils (at least three to five per

person) » At least one Bible (two or more copies preferred) » At least one Book of Common Prayer » At least one copy of the Gifts for Life catalog, found online at

http://www.episcopalrelief.org/giftsforlife/ » Garden tools for your participants: trowels, cultivators, hoes, shovels, a wheelbarrow and

soil or raised garden beds

Courtesy of Harvey Wang for Episcopal Relief & Development


Using this Program for Summer Camps and Long Term Offerings

You are welcome to supplement this program with additional activities in order to tailor this program to summer programs, weekend programs, Vacation Bible School programs, or other extended or long term programs. Options you might add include:

» Gardening projects

» Healthy snacks

» Arts and crafts

» Songs

» Playtime

» Fundraising activities

For more information and tips on these activities, please see Appendix A: Options for Extended Time Periods and Appendix D: Fundraising Toolkit of Abundant Life Garden Project program materials, all available at www.episcopalrelief.org/children.


An Opening Question

An Invitation to Share and Learn

“What garden tools help us grow food in our gardens?”

Optional Question for Adults:

“What tools help us accomplish the work God has called us to do?”

Materials Needed

» crayons, markers or colored pencils » a large blank writing surface

Activity

» As participants arrive, offer them a choice of writing utensils.

» Ask them to draw pictures in response to the question “What garden tools help us grow food in our gardens?” or the optional question for adults. Allow as much time as needed, so that participants may all begin group worship and prayer time together.

» Participants may return to this activity as an additional option during small group reflections.


Litany of Thanks

Ask participants to form a circle.

For a visual focus, pictures of people using garden tools, plows, beekeeping equipment and other non-motorized tools from the Gifts for Life catalog might be displayed in the center of the circle. This display may be as simple or elaborate as you wish.

Leader: The Lord be with you!

Participants: And also with you!

Leader: Lord, creator of all things, we thank you for the gift of this time together. We thank you for the people, tools, and the knowledge that can make our harvests more abundant. Bless us in this time together, and bless those in need of simple tools and training to feed themselves, their families, and their communities. In Christ’s name, Amen.

Leader: Now, I will read several prayers about tools we use to grow our food. Since all kinds of garden tools and equipment are important in growing our food, please respond to each of these prayers with, “We thank you, Lord, for tools to help us grow our food.”

(The leader might ask children to practice “We thank you, Lord, for tools to help us grow our food” before continuing.)

Litany of Thanks for the Tools of Abundant Life Together

(Leader’s prayers are boldface; children and others’ lines are in italics.)

We thank you, Lord, for tools to create for ourselves and others an abundant life together. We thank you for garden tools to work in our gardens. We thank you for the knowledge to craft and use these tools.

We thank you, Lord, for tools to help us grow our food.

We thank you for rakes, hoes, and trowels. We thank you for shovels, wheelbarrows, and carts. We thank you for all tools that help us clear, prepare, weed, and till the soil.



We thank you for garden hoses, irrigation systems, pumps, and buckets. We thank you for all tools that help us bring water to our gardens.


We thank you for pruning shears, scythes, sickles, tarpaulins, and baskets. We thank you for all tools that help us harvest our gardens.


We thank you for gloves, boots, hats, and clothing. We thank you for tools that protect us as we garden.


We thank you, Lord, for all tools to make our harvests and our lives more abundant. We thank you for knowledge and work of those who produce our garden tools. We thank you for those who daily use these tools to provide our food.


Bless us, Lord, as we use the tools given us to do our work. Help us to use them wisely, care for them with good stewardship, and use them for the benefit of others as well as ourselves.

In Christ’s name, Amen.


Meditation

Leader: Listen to a story told by Jesus….

“A sower went out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some fell on the path and was trampled on, and the birds of the air ate it up. Some fell on the rock; and as it grew up, it withered for lack of moisture. Some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew with it and choked it. Some fell into good soil, and when it grew, it produced a hundredfold.”

(Luke 8:4-8)

After a moment for reflection on the parable just read, ask the following questions:

» What tools could a sower use to make sure the seeds grow in good soil?

» How could the sower protect the seeds from birds and thorns?

» What tools and materials do all gardeners need to grow an abundant harvest?

» What tools do we all need to lead an abundant life?

The leader should close his or her eyes and take deep breaths, in order to model silent meditation for others. For tips and information on the importance of silent time with God and how to lead children in meditation, please see Appendix B, Teaching Tips of Abundant Life Garden Project resource materials, available at www.episcopalrelief.org/children.

After a minute or more, the leader might ask the group to share any thoughts they have.


Story from the Field

Jardins pré-Kay for More Abundant Life in Haiti

To improve the food and economic security of urban households affected by the January 2010 earthquake, the Episcopal Diocese of Haiti, and the Church’s relief and development arm, CEDDISEC (Centre Diocésain de Développement Intégré et de Secours), launched a program to promote kitchen gardens, which in Creole are called Jardins pré-Kay. With support from Episcopal Relief & Development, the Diocese of Haiti supplies tools, seeds, and training to people who do not have access to land for agriculture.

The kitchen garden program seeks to enable families to produce a variety of vegetables for both consumption and sale, thus improving household food availability and finances. Kitchen gardens are versatile in both their structure and size, thus enabling families to create productive gardens inside of old tires, grain sacks, half-barrels, etc., and within very confined spaces. At the same time, by applying the appropriate techniques, kitchen gardens can be cultivated year-round, regardless of the season.

Families work together to build “group-wide” nurseries in a location loaned by one of the participating families. From the nurseries, families transplant vegetable plants to their individual kitchen garden structures. In addition to sharing new techniques, CEDDISEC assists these groups with start-up seeds and horticulture tools (e.g., insecticide sprayers, small picks, transplanting shovels and water cans). Based the recommendations of participating families, the types of vegetables being grown include cabbage, eggplant, tomatoes, onions, spinach, chili peppers, bell peppers, carrots, okra and cauliflower.

Think about:

» What did families in Haiti use to create their own kitchen gardens?

» What could you learn from these families about finding resources in your own household or community?

» How did the Episcopal Church - both in the United States and Haiti – sow the seeds of abundant life through the kitchen garden program?

For youth, and adults, a more detailed story of innovative gardening projects at schools in Haiti – providing clean water, fuel, food, and fertilizers – is found as an additional Story from the Field, “Green” Innovations Promote Health and Improve Environment, the end of this module, along with an additional story for children, Growing Hope in Uruguay.

Courtesy of Harvey Wang for Episcopal Relief & Development


Group Learning Exercise

Option 1: How to Use Garden Tools

Many children may not have experience in using actual garden tools. In this exercise, children are given an opportunity to learn the names of the most essential hand tools used in the garden and how they are used to, along with actual experience in using these tools.

This exercise is best done outdoors in a garden or uncultivated land. If you plan to plant or clear land for a garden, this exercise will offer an opportunity for children and others in your community to work together in making a difficult task much easier.

Here are basic tools to be introduced to children:

» Trowel

» Hand cultivator

» Hoe

» Shovel

» Wheelbarrow

Children might also practice watering plants with hoses, buckets, and irrigation systems. Please use water wisely and do not waste it!

Here are tips for working with children in a garden:

» Give each child (or small teams of two or three children) a defined space within which to work. Assign children to specific raised beds or sections of garden or land.

» Start your session with some safety rules. (For example: “Never run with tools in your hand.” “Never raise the tool above your shoulders.” “Always lean hoes and shovels against a fence; never leave tools on the ground.”)

» Give each child a chance to work with each tool. Rotate children around work stations, using each of the tools, after 10-30 minutes of using each tool.

» If you do not have a garden to plant, children will enjoy simply learning to use tools in soil, “practicing” use of the tools for later.

» Don’t worry if the children’s work is not “perfect.” Seeds will get dropped or misplaced, newly tilled soil will get stepped on. Practice patience and mercy!


Option 2: Looking for Tools Among Our Resources

– As Easy As ABCD

(for children, youth, or intergenerational groups; indoor or outdoor)

Material Needed: 3 walls or large bulletin boards; several stacks of stick-on note cards, creativity and resourcefulness

The Exercise: Pretend your group must cultivate a piece of land or garden to provide enough food to feed yourselves for a year.

(This game might be played in your church parish hall, parish garden, or another area. The leader of this game might “plant” possible materials in the room or game space beforehand to provide materials that can be “found” by participants.)

“Needs” Wall: Jot down on a notecard “needs” your group will have – including tools needed - and post them on Wall One.

“Resource Wall”: Jot down all equipment, space, tools, people, skills, or anything else you have to work with on Wall Two. EVERYTHING counts!

Matching Wall: After all your needs and resources have been identified, lead your group in matching “needs” with “resources” by taking a “need” card from Wall One and matching it with “resource” cards from Wall Two. There are no bad ideas! Think creatively!

Discussion Questions following this exercise:

» What did you learn about the difficulties of providing food for yourselves?

» What did you learn about finding resources?

» What did you learn about yourselves or about your community?

» What insights did you gain about communities with fewer (or greater) resources than your own?

This exercise is called community asset mapping. This “mapping” is part of “Asset Based Community Development” (ABCD) and uses a community’s own assets to make positive changes. Asset Based Community Development can be used in many situations, including development of ministries and of food security resources. If your congregation finds that it needs resources to achieve certain goals, you might use this exercise to discover what resources your congregation already has that might fill your needs.


Small Group or Individual Studies

The following studies may be used for small group discussion or for individual reflection. Leaders of the program might set up “learning stations” for each of these studies and invite participants to rotate through the stations at their own pace.

Younger elementary school-aged children, particularly those who do not yet read well, might be assisted by adult or youth shepherds and encouraged to draw a picture in response to the questions. Older children and adults might also be invited to write reflections in a journal, draw pictures, or exercise their creativity in some way as well as they respond to the questions and material.

Old Testament Study— Rebuilding An Abundant Garden

Read Amos 9:11-15

In this passage, the prophet Amos envisions the rebuilding and restoration of an abundant society. Vineyards will be planted, ruined cities will be rebuilt, and those who do farm work will prosper.

Think about:

» What parts of our modern society need to be rebuilt or restored?

» How would those who work on farms, doing manual labor, prosper in a rebuilt and restored society?

» What tools would be needed to “plant new vineyards” and rebuild ruined cities in the 21st century?


New Testament Study— Sow Bountifully, Reap Bountifully – God Loves a Cheerful Giver

Read 2 Corinthians 9:6-12

In this passage, we are urged to share our resources with others, and cheerfully! By giving to the poor, we find ourselves blessed.

Think about:

» How are we indeed enriched by giving to others?

» What difference does it make to give cheerfully?

» What tools might we use to sow the seeds of cheerful giving?

Draw or write your responses.

Abundant Life Garden Project


Book of Common Prayer Study—Tools for the Work of the People

In our worship services, we use many “tools” to do the work of the people in praying, sharing, and celebrating together.

» What “tools” do we use in our worship services to pray together?

» Which “tools” of worship do you find most meaningful? Which of these “tools” sow the seeds for an abundant spiritual life?

» How can these tools be given or shared with others to sow a garden of abundant life for others?


Story from the Field: Additional Story for In-Depth Study

Growing Hope in Uruguay

Janet is a 37-year-old mother of three, living with her husband in Progreso, 32 kilometers from Montevideo, the capital of Uruguay. Life is not easy for her family – Janet is unemployed, and her husband only has occasional work doing odd jobs. It is often a struggle to put food on the table for their children, Brucen (17), Analia (11) and Alan (2). Their home is very basic, made of metal and lightweight materials. The house has no bathroom.

Janet has found ways to empower herself and provide for her family. She is learning how to plant and cultivate a vegetable garden with the help of a program called El Sembrador (“The Sower”), based in Progreso. El Sembrador is a partner organization of the Uruguayan Church, and is supported by Episcopal Relief & Development. This program is helping people to feed themselves through small-scale farming initiatives and domestic gardens in their homes, schools and churches.

The training offered by El Sembrador takes people through the entire process of creating and maintaining a garden, including making gardening tools and composting organic household waste to enrich the soil naturally and at no cost. The program provides start-up seeds and training on

how to till and fertilize the soil. New gardeners learn how to care for the growing plants and when to harvest produce. Janet has planted a garden in her backyard, and the children at School Number 180 in Villa Felicidad, a village near Progreso, have even made their own greenhouse.

When families have healthy, nutritious meals and extra money to invest in education and trade, children thrive. This is especially important in the communities served by El Sembrador, where children sometimes account for over half the population. Good food gives kids the strength to grow and to ward off sickness, as well as energy and concentration to do well in school. Having access to fresh produce may seem a small thing, but it goes a long way toward ensuring a better future for children, their families and their communities.


Think about these questions:

» What “tools” was Janet given to help her feed her family?

» How important are these tools to Janet? What would she do without them?

» What tools do our families need to feed ourselves? Where do we get them?

» What tools can we share with others to help them lead a more abundant life?


For Youth and Adults:

“Green” Innovations Promote Health and Improve Environment

Seven-year-old Maryline lives with her family in Léogâne, 50 kilometers outside Port-au-Prince, in Haiti. Léogâne was extremely hard-hit by the January 2010 earthquake that shook the country, killing 300,000 people and leaving a million homeless.

In the aftermath of the quake, Episcopal Relief & Development worked with its local partner, the Episcopal Diocese of Haiti, and the Church’s relief and development arm, CEDDISEC (Centre Diocésain de Développement Intégré et de Secours), to organize relief and recovery work. With over 86,000 members, the Church in Haiti is the largest diocese in the Episcopal Church, and its schools and social care programs are renowned throughout the country. Maryline attends an Episcopal school in Léogâne that is participating in a program that goes beyond basic rubble removal and reconstruction – instead, it focuses on “green” innovations that can improve health and wellbeing.

With support from Episcopal Relief & Development, Maryline’s school and two others are piloting a program that combines renewable energy production with advancements in water, sanitation, hygiene, agriculture and reforestation practices. Facilitated by ACT Alliance partner Norwegian Church Aid, it involves mobilizing the students and the wider community to:

» Construct a rainwater catchment system along school building eaves

» Install a solar-powered pump that brings the water to new flush toilets and hand-washing stations

» Build an in-ground bio-digester that turns waste into methane gas and liquid fertilizer

» Pipe the methane gas to a new school kitchen for cooking

» Collect the liquid fertilizer and use it to grow seedlings for reforestation and produce for student meals

» Rehabilitate bore wells to supply clean water for drinking, washing and cooking

Students also receive health and hygiene education in order to teach or reinforce healthy behaviors, such as drinking and cooking with clean water, and washing hands after using the toilet or before eating. Maryline learned about the risks of using unsafe water, but when she realized how serious the consequences could be, she became an enthusiastic advocate at home for health


and hygiene. Maryline reminded her father to always wash his hands before eating and asked her mother to make sure that the kitchen utensils were washed in clean water rather than in the irrigation canals near the family’s house. Maryline also took up the habit of preparing a bottle of treated water for her father to take to work, so he would not have to drink the water sold on his job site.

But it was up to the grown-ups to help people believe in the benefits of the other part of the school project: the bio-digester. Built underground, the bio-digester system requires ongoing maintenance to ensure proper function and prevent ground contamination or other health and safety concerns, and people were skeptical about whether it would be a help or a hazard. After the bio-digesters were built and began to work, the director of one of the schools took a sample of liquid fertilizer from one of the pilot sites and planted a patch of watermelons near the school grounds for all to see. At the first harvest, many of the same people who had expressed doubt were among the first to laud the quality and taste of the watermelons. It didn’t take long for word to spread that the melons grown with the bio-digester fertilizer were “pi dous,” (which means “sweeter”) than those grown with chemicals.

Thanks to the long-term community presence of the Church in Haiti, the activities conducted in partnership with Norwegian Church Aid and Episcopal Relief & Development enjoy a large degree of community investment and are able to have a sustained impact on the lives of families like Maryline’s. Episcopal Relief & Development will continue to support the Church as it helps the country build back better, with creative, locally led programs that promote health and build vital infrastructure.

Think about:

» How did the success of this project reflect the power of the Body of Christ?

» What did you learn about the power of networks in solving problems? What did you learn about the Episcopal Church?

» What other “tools” were used in providing clean water, power, and food to this community?


Closing Reflections and Prayer

Closing Reflection:

Ask children and adult or youth helpers and leaders to form a circle again. Ask your group to take a few deep breaths and think about what they saw, heard or experienced during their time today.

Going around the circle so that each person (children and helpers or leaders) has a turn, ask each person what they learned today. (If someone wants to take a “pass” and remain silent, that’s okay.)

*Songs may be sung here.

Closing Prayer (to be read by the leader or by one or more children):

We thank you, Lord, for this time to learn and share together. Help us to use what we experienced today as tools to better love each other and share with each other. Bless us as we use our own talents, gifts, and resources to bring more abundant life to those around us and far away.

In Christ’s name, Amen.

Photo courtesy of Episcopal School of Knoxville


Survey Questions for Christian Formation Programs

Thank you for your interest in this Episcopal Relief & Development Christian formation resource. Your opinions are valuable and will enable us to better serve you and your church. Please take a few minutes to fill out and return this brief survey. The form can be completed online by typing directly into the PDF file, or by printing it out and completing it manually.

Online survey forms may be returned by email to [email protected]. Please mail printed surveys to Episcopal Relief & Development, Engagement Office, 815 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10017.

We greatly appreciate your time and feedback.

1. Name of organization _____________________________________________ (church, diocese, school, camp or other institution)

Address ______________________________________________________

Phone _______________________ Email ___________________________

2. Please provide the name and contact information of the leader: Name ________________________________________________________ Address _____________________________________________________________________________________________

Phone _______________________ Email ___________________________

3. Which Episcopal Relief & Development curriculum or program did you use?

□ Abundant Life Garden Project (children’s curriculum)

□ Act Out (youth curriculum)

□ NetsforLife® Adult Education Study Guide (group discussion guide)

□ Other _________________________________________________

4. a) In what forum did you use these resources?

□ Sunday School □ Vacation Bible School (VBS)

□ Youth retreat (lock-in) □ Adult forum/class

□ Other _________________________________________________

b) Where was the event held?

□ Church □ Diocese

□ School □ Camp

□ Other _________________________________________________


5. How did you organize your events?

a) Number of sessions ____________________________________________

b) Duration/length of time ________________________________________

c) Number of children/youth _______________________________________

d) Number of teachers/leaders ______________________________________

6. a) Did you use or create additional resources or otherwise enhance the program?

□ Yes □ No

b) If yes, what other resources or options did you include?

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

c) Please share any creative activities that were particularly successful or enhanced the education experience for participants.

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

7. a) Would you recommend these materials to others?

□ Yes □ Possibly □ No

b) If you would like to share these resources and programs with others, please provide their names and contact information below.

Name ________________________________________________________ Address ______________________________________________________

Phone _____________________ Email ____________________________

8. Let us know what other kinds of resources you would like to use or if you have additional comments or questions.

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

abundant life- garden tools-april 2013€¦ · buckets, shovels, rakes, and even garden hoses –...

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