Los Algarrobos natural sciences teacher and Planet Drum collaborator Enrique contacted me requesting some soil for a garden project that he had in mind for the school. I suggested that the Planet Drum crew assist with the project and that we would be happy to donate the necessary soil.
On this particular Friday, we visited Los Algarrobos school in Canoa for a recycled-tire garden building activity with the 5th graders. The students had already collected and painted used car tires as well as at least one plant or ornamental flower each. We arrived with a crew of volunteers, shovels, soil, and a desire to help.
The first task was to arrange the used tires in the tiered design that Enrique had planned and secure them in place with soil and rocks. The quality soil from the Planet Drum greenhouse was saved for the spaces in the middle of the tires where the flowers and plants would be planted. After the tires were positioned, we called the kids over so that they could plant their flowers in the tires.
Most of the children were really into the project and carefully planted their flowers and plants. Many raced to fetch water for watering them. At the end of the morning, a new and eye-catching garden with recycled tires and flowers planted by the students was successfully installed at the school!
Text and photos by Clay Plager-Unger unless otherwise noted.
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