2E:
Visit gardens and green spaces
Goal
You'll visit a variety of gardens and green spaces. You'll be able to learn about the environmental value of each place. You'll learn about environmental resources in your neighborhood, city, and region. You'll learn the measurements of planting beds, benches, structures, and pathways. You'll also get new design inspiration from seeing some beautiful and unusual gardens and green spaces.
Objectives
Each person will be able to:
1. Enjoy and explore each new environment
2. Evaluate the environmental value of each place
3. Describe the environmental resources already available in your neighborhood
4. measure garden and green space areas
5. describe new garden and green space design ideas from their visits
Materials
& Resources
Worksheet "Environmental Value"
Worksheet "Environmental Resources"
Paper, pencil, and clipboard (5)
25' Measuring tape or yardsticks (5)
Activity
Steps:
1. Set up visits to gardens and green spaces, like community gardens, green parks, botanical gardens, farms, urban fringe areas (wetlands, fields) and wilderness areas. Find some that have a wide variety of resources and environmental areas, and ones that are not a healthy example of an environmental resource. If possible, set up visits to all garden, green spaces, parks and playgrounds within 3 blocks of your site.
2. At each place have 1/2 the people in your group explore and have half split up and do the following activities. Take turns and be sure everyone gets to explore.
3. Watch people explore and fill out the worksheet "Environmental Value"
4. Measure:
A. the distance between trees, shrubs, and perennial planting areas
B. the height and width of benches, tables, and other structures
C. the width and length of pathways
D. the width and length of playing fields and other play areas
E. any other important features
Write these measurements down. Add measurements of any other important areas.
Have people write design and environmental experiences in journals after every site visit. After you have visited all of the environments within 3 blocks of your site, fill out the worksheet "Environmental Resources".