Then, during an online, nature-based education course focused on gardening and outdoor classrooms, I met Kaelyb Lokrantz, the director of the Merrill Community Sharing Garden. This organization works to transform vacant lots into public gardens. While my class struggled to find trash, Kaelyb and his stakeholders could find it in abundance.
Through our discussions, the idea for a garden mural was born. This would enhance the garden landscape and allow children to work together to explore their artistic expression, collaborate with peers, and engage in meaningful work connected to our broader community. My goal was for children to learn to express themselves creatively through experimentation and our shared sense of purpose.
Creating Art from Trash
To begin, high school students who spent some of their educational hours at the Merrill Community Sharing Garden collected trash from the garden and surrounding neighborhood. After it was collected, I sorted through it and sanitized what I wanted to share with children. Most of what we received was recyclable.
Our idea was for children to create a three-dimensional sculpture and attach it to one of the paneled boards that would be displayed at the garden. Earlier in the year, they had made small sculptures using the limited litter we found on our grounds. Most of this was lightweight, meaning they could use glue to create their artwork. However, the trash from the garden was much larger and heavier. This offered an opportunity for children to explore new tools and new ways of sculpting.
“ Getting everything to fit on this board is like a puzzle,” I say.
The children are working around a table, adjusting pieces of trash and making suggestions on how to make each piece fit. Miles shifts a piece of turf, then begins watching Amara try to place a bottle onto our sculpting board.
“ It keeps sliding,” she says, brows furrowed.“ I want it to stay.”
As I look around the table, I decide it’ s time to introduce tools for us to work with.“ It took four of you to get the bag up onto the art table,” I say.“ This stuff is heavy.” I reach into my box and pull out a drill.
“ Remember when we used the electric drill for our greenhouses?” I ask. Noah nods and instantly chimes in.“ We need to be focused, and you are right by our side.”
Weston spins a red soda cap on the table, scanning the board.“ I want to start with the drill,” he says.“ The cap can fit right here.” He reaches for the drill as the other children hold the board securely. The drill hums as Weston secures the cap in place.
Summer 2026 Educating Young Children 23