Leaf Litter Lug

This year the centerpiece of the environmental education program I organize in four elementary schools will be vegetable gardens. We will be planting the gardens in May when the rains come, but the preparations have already begun. Last week I took all my schools out into the forest to gather leaf litter so that we can start compost piles. Field trip!

We set off walking for a good 45 minutes before we got to decent forest in each of the four communities. This is because the highlands of Alaska where the villages are situated have been completely deforested for decades, converted to crop fields and pastureland. But it’s always good to get the kids out for a hike.

Once we arrived in forest that offered decent organic material, we instructed the children to start collecting it in the sacks they had brought along. Some were a bit bashful at first; others tore off into the underbrush as if we had told them there were candy bars hidden under the leaves.

Kids are cute when they are bashful.

Sooner or later they all got down to it. Here are three boys from Pacutama I having a competition to see who can gather the most litter.

The teachers and I exploited the opportunity to sneak in some messages about ecology, resource management, and other themes that sprang out at us. Here Professor Genaro translates my explanation of nutrient cycling and composting.

At a different school I talk about the importance of giving newly reforested areas special care.

Soon the children had gathered enough material and we began the trek back to school. Mayans carry heavy loads either atop their heads, or balanced on their backs and braced with a strap across their brows. Even the little ones carry something!

After Holy Week vacation we will start the compost piles and break open the sod to reveal the rich, dark earth. We will also have to fence them off with barbwire to protect the gardens from hungry sheep. As we hoofed back to school under the high-altitude sun, I smiled, thinking of all the fun and learning we have ahead of us.