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NHoing to plant 'love of gardeninçj'seed in kids Local author looks to spread message through book By Stephanie Hounseli CANADIAN CHAMPION STAFF M ary, Mary, quite contrary. how does your garden grow? When it cornes 10 the gardenis local teacher and author Daxvid Bamnes plants wîth bis students, moore tbsn suler beils asnd cocic lcxbiis spi ing to ice Impor tans s ,tiocx sucb as respoiixiiîltN. paticincc and a sutuirnig aittind*' blî,sxorn alongstide the. flowcis and trecx. 'l balt ii tit ni bodu cli foi C\ iot "Il kids groxs Ill xx itb suriniig, caring attitude,,, xvc Il bav c a bettersxociety," Barnes said. Sexcnil years igo, titis nexs Milton resi- dent - lie iox cd to 1 iaxviborn Villagc six inonths ago witb bis wviie and two x'otsng children - dcc ided tii wxrite a clilclrcn's book about bis passion ior nature, and in partictîlar. tise benefîts of gardens. iwo years ago, 'My 'Sebool is Alive!' was published. Now, wiîh gardeing season in full bloom, Barnes is hoping to spread bis mes- sage to bis new community through the book and a new teachers'. manual hie recent- ly created. "How cani we make the future a better place? This is a tiny way, but ifs significant," Barnies said. lnîended for chîldren in grades 1 to 6, 'My Sehool is Alive!' is based on the true story of a garden project Barnes undertook at bts school. lt follows a hictîtious student as she helps create a garden for the entire school to enjoy It serves as an informative and inspira- tional text for students, teachers and parents who want to begin their own garden pro]ect - which is Barnies' hope. And ifs received positive reviews from sources including The Canadian Children's Book Centre. The leamning garden project ssarted out simply enough. Barnies, who was teachîng grade 2 ai a North York school, decîded to plant a small butterfly garden wiib the kîds. Before long, a piece of land that nobody iooked twice at was gettîng lots of attention. Every day; bis students would vîsîs to see what flower had bloomed or what bug îbey couid catch. Soon, students in other grades took notice and wanted to get învolved. Over the next lew years the garden grew, thanks to, a grant from the TD Friends of the Fnvironment Foundation. "It became a linge projeet,' Barnes said. In its third year, a nature club with 150 students formed. Every lunch hour, somte of those students would tend to the gardcn. 'Seeing the students lox'ing St so much, 1 started to realize you can actually teach out here," Bamnes said. And thats what bie dîd. Whether it was learning the biology of plants. measurnng trees for math class or painting in the garden for art class, students loved learning there. Around the fourth year, the whole school was învolved. Not only were studenîs en]oying them- selves, Bamnes could sense their attitudes changing too. As they cared for seedlings and nurtured tnv plants, they hegan to treat each other better, bie said. What started as a small pruject had become almost a movement, Barnes explained. lt was just too amazing to keep to him- self. Barnes reabized he had to write a book t0 share the experience with others. Another of Bamres' bifelong passions is painting - Barries is also an artist - 50 St was only natural that he do the illustrations as well as the writîng. Bamnes sent the book to several publish- ers, but eacb time it was turned down. Although they liked the idea, they felt it wasn't profitable, Barnies said. Thats when hie decided to publish it himself. "So far ifs been well received," lie saîd. As summer approaches, hie hopes parents will bie motivated to garden with their chil- dren. Not only is it a great way to learn, its a way to spend quality urne together, Barnes said. The teachers' manual Barnes recently completed shows how to link the teaching of wniting to the outdoor garden space the book encourages teachers and students to plant. The program is stili în its infancy stage, but there have been some bites, Barnes said, and hes excited. The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources is offening free tree seed to schools that decide to follow the programt. Barnes is currently impiementing the program where hie teaches in Missîssasîga. For a copv of Barnies' book or accompa- nvîng manual. contact hîîn at dbames@onemorestoryplease.com. Steplsanic Housssell cati bc rcached ai sxi sscntAlmîhoncanadiancliampiîon. om. CROSSWYNDS GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB k6621 Guelph Ujne, BuligWon, Ontarlo (jus south of Deerry Rd.) Telk (905) 319-5991 www.crosswindsgolf.com " I 8-hole Championship Golf Course " Driving Range and Practice Facility " Licenced Lounge and Bar " Golf Tournaments " Weddings and Receptions * Private and Corporate Functions Rat" " Monday to lhursday $638 " Early Bird tWekdays before 8:3Oam) $50 " Twilight (Evcryday after 4pm) $50 * Friday to Sanda>' & Holidays $78 W~faisx'o