Interview with Trey the Farmer: Dig in and Vote for his Living Labs Project in Berkeley, CA

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PlanetShifter.com spoke with Trey as he hustles up votes for his Brighter Planet Project Fund project:

What is community based ecological rehabilitation? Examples? Theory?

There is a mass disconnect from nature, which I think is the underlying cause of our global problems. If we all had a deeper understanding and respect for our habitat and fellow species, 'things' and 'entertainment' would be replaced with experiences and community and people would be content. I have a serious gripe with environmentalists on this page, so please consider the following: Stop telling us how bad we are messing up and how crappy things are and pushing guilt on to the population. It only makes us want more things and bigger TVs so that we can hide from the supposed burning, horrible, polluted mess of a world outside. Seriously, stop. Smokers know it is bad for them, Hummer drivers know they are polluting. Awareness is not the issue and guilt is not the solution. End the harassment, begin the healing.

Living Labs Project is based on a couple of facts. Kids are bored in school. Schools are horrible spaces for learning. Kids are hugely and unprecedentedly disconnected from nature (and growing). Kids are the future.

If we can help some students actually heal the land that they spend their time on, they can gain more than we can imagine. They realize that they have control over the earth, and that they can literally bring a dead patch of asphalt back to a teaming abundant ecosystem that will even feed them. This is so much more relevant to their growth as human beings and earthlings than anything in a book or website could be. Period.

How do you capture and direct kids in this arena?

Kids respond well to the outdoors as well as changes in environment, especially if they are with a teacher who is excited about being outside as well. If they get to be outside during a school day and among a wetland system they are going to be happy and the learning happens without the students even being aware of it. Would you rather be in a dusty classroom reading from a 15 year old text book or playing in the reeds and watching frogs and birds? Some are surprised when they learn that young people who regularly spend time outdoors have lower levels of ADHD, obesity, learning disabilities and social troubles than their peers.

Have you seen this new book: Smart by Nature - Schooling for Sustainability?

I love this book! I'm glad it got the WP stamp of approval. It is an amazing resource for schools and needs to be on every teacher's shelf, as well as anyone designing or working with schools. Coming from an Architectural background, Living Labs is anchored in the idea that our surroundings mold us. There is a Churchill quote in there "We shape our buildings, and afterwards our buildings shape us." At no time is this more important that during our formative years. The sad truth is that far too many schools are nothing but asphalt and poorly designed buildings that are literally making our kids sick. Sick physically, but also emotionally, socially and intellectually. The teachers and administrators are fighting such an uphill battle and the movement to get kids outside in wild spaces is merely trying to help.

No Child Left Behind? How does this factor into the instruction groove? Vision? Result?

There is a growing body of knowledge that shows quite clearly the positive effects of time outside in natural spaces on students. That said, it is not easy to convince people that less time studying for a test will actually produce better results. Time in close proximity to nature teaches immeasurable skills, but it also teaches focus and calm. NCLB has its heart in the right place but it makes unconventional methods a hard sell. Teachers are already stretched incredibly thin and working for peanuts. It amazes me that our society continues to disrespect the most important people in our communities through a lack of support and appropriate compensation. Basically LLP is set up to help the teachers and schools that remember how important playing in creeks and fields was to their own childhood.

Tell us about the Children and Nature Network? Why are they part of the Lab? What are their values?

Richard Louv (who is an utter champion) has done an amazing job (along with so many others), of organizing a web of support for anyone interested in reconnecting youth and nature. They have amazing resources and I would highly recommend everyone, especially if you have children, to check out their site join the local group. Help end Nature Deficit Disorder!

What is the state of the Lab curriculum at this point? What do you need to tighten it up?

It depends on the project. Each Lab is unique and dynamic as is each student body. We are about to make a shift and move in to our first elementary school in years so the curriculum will be developed by the school, but with support from LLP and our many resources from other groups. I have found it invigorating to find so many wonderful organizations working in their communities to help schools with gardening, wild areas, and nature education.

The permaculture ethics of people care, earth care and community wholeness are integral to the Labs and the way that students interact with them. When a student sees their first dragon fly dance, the moment imparts things words never could. Yet this is the most critical time to play off that intense wonder and curiosity. That is the moment when a teacher can really help that young person get interested and shift their world view. If the students are truly a part of the Lab and the Lab a part of the students, I would call that a success.

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Living Labs Project - $2500 Award Level, Berkeley, CA

A Brighter Planet Project Fund project proposal by Trey the Farmer

The Living Labs Project helps local schools create living outdoor classrooms though community based ecological rehabilitation projects on school grounds. Through creative play and hands on learning students gain a connection to, respect for, and understanding of the natural world to which we belong.
Kids are medicated, plugged in and tuned out. A growing body of knowledge makes it clear that hands-on, nature based play and learning lead to kids who are physically and mentally healthier, achieve better scores on standardized test and have increased self esteem.

Our Program focuses on schools in the East Bay which are already stretched thin and struggling to meet the requirements of No Child Left Behind. Many of the communities and faculties we have worked with or contacted are eager to get their students outside and free from the boxes they are stuck in. The problem is that there is a significant worry that teachers and staff don’t have the time, funding, or knowledge to do so. There is also a big issue with the fear of test scores not meeting requirements and schools losing funding. Thankfully the Children and Nature Network and other groups continue to compile a body of research that shows great academic improvement in students who spend part of their day in hands-on, natural outdoor settings.

Were we to receive funding, we would use it for the following:

* To pull up 2000 sq.ft. of asphalt at one of the schools we are involved with (either in Richmond, CA or Oakland, CA) which currently have zero unpaved areas.

* This space would then be would be turned into a seasonal wetland system and a greenhouse, where elementary school students would have classes and learn about natural systems and native habitat through hands-on experience

*It would also help us work with the school to customize a curriculum geared to experiential learning and play in the Living Lab

Watch Part 1 of the Living Labs Documentary

Watch Part 2 of the Living Labs Documentary

Help us facilitate learning the way it should be and help our communities raise a generation of students who are passionate, healthy, and educated.

Connections:
The: Brighter Planet Project Fund
email: Treythefarmer at hotmail dot com