Farming Preschool Teaches Kids How to Grow Their Own Food

From Sara Barnes at My Modern Met

"In the age of convenience—instant digital technology and fast food—it can be hard for kids to feel connected to nature and to what they eat. With this in mind, Rome-based designers Edoardo Capuzzo Dolcetta, Gabriele Capobianco, Davide Troiana, and Jonathan Lazar have created an innovative way to introduce children to the outdoor environment. Their proposal—which recently won the AWR International Ideas Competition—is called Nursery Fields Forever, and it combines urban farming with a preschool education.

Nursery Fields Forever offers three approaches to learning: from nature; from technique; and from practice. Children will be taught to grow and harvest their own food, as well as interact with animals. These tasks, though small ones, can have a positive effect on kids' everyday lives. The hands-on method instills valuable social skills, teamwork, and promotes a healthy lifestyle from a young age. At the same time, students will also learn about the benefits of renewable energy—including wind turbines and solar arrays—that keep the school running.

“We think that kids should enjoy nature,” Dolcetta told Fast Company. “So we designed this strange school: No classrooms, but open spaces where vegetables grow inside and animals can come in too. It’s a mixing of the two things, school and nature.” With this model, children are engaged in learning that will inspire them to think differently. "A typical school has desks and chairs—in our school, there are not these things. And there's the freedom to stay inside or go outside."

In Anxious Anticipation

Aaron Tilley (in collaboration with director Kyle Bean) has created the art series 'In Anxious Anticipation'.

His piece  "explore[s] the curious connection between how the mind perceives the world and conveys these reactions in their physical body." (source)

There is also an essay written by Jordan Kushins to go with the series. 

"The story (“In Anxious Anticipation”) revolves around this idea that visuals can invoke feelings of expectation and dread; from the ink droplet dangling precariously over a pressed white shirt, to a row of bricks about to collapse onto a dainty champagne goblet, the images aim to induce an empathetic rush of anticipation. Adrenaline flows from the adrenal glands, a result of stimulation of the autonomic nervous system. Through this magazine issue, the artistic designers wish to titillate the thrill-seekers amongst us and discover the ability of the artificial to induce this dreadful joy within our bodies."  (source)

Combo Photos

Stephen McMennamy has created absurd and whimsical images that combine two images.

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See Life's Changes in a Single Room

Here is an example of art that reflects the changes in mood and circumstance through life. This could be a great discussion prompt for emotional change, naming feelings, or how to respond to difficult situations.

"Dorothy O'Connor translates events from her life into a surreal ongoing series called Scenes. For years, the artist has transformed spaces—often a room—into fantastical places that tell a story. Visually rich and exciting, they feature elements of the natural world that are handcrafted by O’Connor. In one room, a den of snakes line a ceiling, while in another, over 200 paper birds circle the space. A giant tornado—which has over 500 feet of fabric around it—engulfs the contents of another. These awe-inspiring sights are interactive and initially displayed as installations (with live models) in galleries and other art spaces. The tornado, for instance, actually rotated during its opening.

Every concept in Scenes is predominantly shaped by O’Connor’s experiences. As a result, these spaces double as a conceptual autobiography and creating them is a cathartic experience. “Building these life-sized installations also allows me to literally live inside my own imagination,” she writes, “if only for a short time and satisfies the need to create a more aesthetically pleasing reality.” Each project takes her months to complete, and after the scenes have debuted, they remain only as a photograph."

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Living Bridges and Systems for the Wettest Place on Earth

"Meghalaya, India, is reportedly the rainiest spot on Earth. The village of Mawsynram in Meghalaya receives 467 inches of rain per year. Laborers who work outdoors often wear full-body umbrellas made from bamboo and banana leaf. 

One of the most fascinating and beautiful features in the region are the "living bridges" spanning rain-soaked valleys. For centuries, locals have been training the roots of rubber trees to grow into natural bridges, far outlasting man-made wooden structures that rot in just a few years. The bridges are self-strengthening, becoming more substantial over time, as the root systems grow." Imgaes by Amos Chapple

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The article also shows the different systems the citizens have in place to deal with the rainfall and the effects it has.

Bike While You Wash

Design students at Dalian Nationalities University in China have created a washing machine drum that is integrated into the wheel of a bike. This means you can wash your clothes as you cycle!

The extra electricity generated as you cycle can be used to power the display screen or stored for future rides.

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Juji the Big White Dog

Here is a neat example of photoshop and perspective, as well as the incredible healing power of animals and relationships.

 

"Photographer Christopher Cline and his Goldendoodle Juji (pronounced Joo-ji) are a match made in Photoshop heaven. After moving from Virginia to Minnesota a few years ago, the artist was feeling homesick and "sliding into a sad place in life." Then, his girlfriend Christine brought home Juji. "I wasn't exactly open to getting a dog," Cline told Mrs. Sizzle, "but I immediately fell in love with him. He has turned my life completely around and we are now absolutely inseparable. I have found a new outlook on life and in my artwork and I owe it all to him."

After Juji came into his life, Cline began expressing himself through Photoshop. He'd take photos of himself and Juji and later alter them to make it look as though his canine pal was a giant. "I just wanted to share a little of our adventures together," Cline explains, adding that he wants his edits to have a "kids’ book feel." Whether they're lounging on the couch or taking on outdoor adventures, both Juji and his human seem to have a ton of fun together—no matter what their size!" 

 

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