Plants in the Community: Gardening for Young People

Join us for a fun after-school gardening program to learn about plants in the community!

Ages 7-14

Schedule: Five Mondays – 2:30 to 4:00 PM from September 30th to October 28th, 2024

Location: Beacon Food Forest - Meet at the Gathering Plaza

Class Overview

How do plants grow? What do they need to thrive?

In this class you’ll learn about plants, and how they fit into a community of humans, animals, insects, microbes and other plants. We’ll use art, science, and cultural knowledge to design and plant gardens that are good for the earth and its occupants, and enjoy plants as food and materials for making useful and beautiful items!

Explore the Beacon Food Forest

Detailed class overview:

INTRO – Meet each other, learn about the use of a talking stick, learn about the Food Forest and the three core ethics of permaculture (Care for the Earth, Care for People, Fair share for all), tour the Beacon Food Forest, and start a garden journal.

PLANT COMMUNITIES - learn about environmental niches, and the roles of different plant types in a plant community. Learn about soil and compost.

PLANTS WE EAT – learn how animals (incl. humans) use plants. Learn about parts of plants used for energy capture, energy storage, and reproduction, learn how insects pollinate plants.

PLANTS & HUMAN CULTURES - learn about native vs introduced, wild vs cultivated, weeds & invasive plants, culturally relevant plants, and indigenous cultivation of plants.

CONCLUSION - talk about garden tasks throughout the year, and plant some perennial plants at the Beacon Food Forest.

About the Instructors

Eleanor Goodall is a BFF Volunteer and enthusiastic gardener. She has a BA in Biology and Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering, and has done coursework on small farm and ranch management through the Washington State University Extension. She enjoys cooking, eating, and sharing the harvest with friends, family, and the local food bank. She has worked as a summer camp counselor, a patent agent, a grant writer, and a farm worker.

Tony Dickey: Tony began his “career” in permaculture through helping housemates in West Seattle create a more sustainable landscape circa 2015. He has committed to environmental causes since canoeing 400 miles down the Connecticut River in in 1968. Supposedly retired, Tony turned his interest in permaculture/ regenerative farming into a keen desire to advocate for pollinators and other forms of life.

Currently an active member of the Washington Native Bee Society, Tony created Pollinator-Plus at Beacon Food Forest (BFF) and oversees its guild since 2021. Starting in 2018, he has worked with the Education Committee in a variety of ways, such as inspiring its intern outreach. Tony also actively collaborates with Tilth Alliance, Seattle Public Schools, Washington Native Bee Society and Xerces Society.

As he’ll probably tell you: he loves taking pictures of bees! But also other insects, flowers, birds and even dirt! Bees need dirt. Ask Tony why when you meet him.

Host or Publisher Beacon Food Forest - Food Forest Collective