McLane Creek Nature Trail

Today was our first garden field trip as a class. Marja led us for a walk down McLane Creek Nature Trail. She stopped for several plants here and there, to tell a story, history, a brief overview of the plant's properties or a tid bit about the surrounding ecology. Students chimed in with stories, experiences, tips, questions and wisdom. Although it was the first day of class, the community began to become cohesive as others shared. Interesting how the natural world is relatable to any being in one way or another...

I was particularly thrilled to see Nettles, oh the glory! 

From Nature Journal

After our time spent together, I gathered my thoughts at home and attempted to answer our core class questions.

McLane Creek Nature Trail is a unique type of garden- not exactly the kind where you would find vegetables in rows or plots of soil, but a place for teaching, coexisting and interacting with Mother Earth. I had a thought about what building this trail must have been like. In a way, trail builders are gardeners having to work with the land and understand her language.

I am starting to understand that a garden is much more than a place for a single person to develop an intimate connection with the natural world, but as a community. Certainly, I was not the first person to walk this trail. Many others before me had, and with every person came an experience. Whether they learned more about the trail by reading the sign or discovered the beauty of Devil's Club on their trek. McLane Creek Nature Trail is a garden because it fosters community, experiental knoweledge and connection with that which we were born from.

McLane Creek Nature Trail taught me that the definition of what is a "garden" is boundless. A garden is not bound by only being a green plot of land or a food/medicine production center. It is something that words cannot explain!

I can give to McLane Creek Nature Trail by going out and experiencing the beauty lurking around every corner, tree, plant, flower and bud. I can give by appreciating and having gratitude for preserved beauty like McLane.