As in the case with most things we tackle, if we stand back and look, we find there are many lessons to be learned and pondered in just about everything we attempt.  One place we are told there are many ways to learn is in the garden.

The system of education instituted at the beginning of the world was to be a model for man throughout all aftertime. As an illustration of its principles a model school was established in Eden, the home of our first parents. The Garden of Eden was the schoolroom, nature was the lesson book, the Creator Himself was the instructor, and the parents of the human family were the students. Education p. 20 (read entire chapter)

For the first eight or ten years of a child’s life the field or garden is the best schoolroom, the mother the best teacher, nature the best lesson book. Education p. 208

In their gardening, question them as to what they learn from the care of their plants. As they look on a beautiful landscape, ask them why God clothed the fields and woods with such lovely and varied hues. Why was not all colored a somber brown? When they gather the flowers, lead them to think why He spared us the beauty of these wanderers from Eden. Teach them to notice the evidences everywhere manifest in nature of God’s thought for us, the wonderful adaptation of all things to our need and happiness. Education p. 119

We are starting a new series on our blog about gardening called “Growing in the Garden”.  In this series, we hope to share some simple gardening advice and some object lessons that can be learned with some observations in the area we are mentioning.  We would love to hear your thoughts, so feel free to add to the comments any added discussion on the topics presented.  The challenge is for us to learn to recognize true learning and how to teach with real experiences in the garden.

We are open to submissions in this series, if you would like to write about some of your gardening experiences.  Submissions from parents and your children (students) are welcome.  Please contact Ann for more information on how you can share your experiences.  Just email adventisthomeducator@gmail.com and we will forward any blog requests to her.