Where kids learn to care for nature

Catherine Gichungu, Greenit Decors director on the backyard on June 6, 2022. PHOTO | EVANS HABIL | NMG

When Catherine Gichugu began Greenit Decors again in 2016, it was to fix a damaged coronary heart – hers. A yr previous to whereas constructing her household dwelling, she was devastated on realising that the Meru Oak tree, a species from which her heat and welcoming kitchen cupboards have been curved from, was dealing with extinction.

“After I went again to get extra wooden for cabinets, the cupboard provider advised me that the Meru Oak was an endangered species. I realised that as an finish person I had a hand in creating this disaster. Founding Greenit Decors was my method of doing one thing to make sure it lives on,” she tells me from the backyard centre situated on Magadi Street.

Greenit Decors is an organization devoted to the conservation of indigenous timber. It’s situated underneath 12 indigenous timber, a few of which she informs me are uncommon species. For instance, the pink stinkwood (Prunus africana), a tree well-known for its medicinal properties and for not being adequately conserved.

On the two-acre plot, it’s clear to see that Ms Gichugu conducting her objective. There are greater than 40 indigenous tree species well-tended to, awaiting to search out new houses. Nevertheless, it’s not the timber which have introduced me right here right now.

It’s her ardour for conservation for the long run by Mizizi Eco Circle, a programme designed to encourage Kenyan kids to be taught and share the values of caring for nature.

Mizizi Eco Circle is a product the nostalgia that shadowed her through the three years it took to arrange Greenit Decors. Loads of her childhood reminiscences are steeped in nature.

Catherine Gichungu, Director Greenit Decors posing for a photograph at Mizizi Eco Cirle in Karen, Nairobi on June 6, 2022. PHOTO | EVANS HABIL | NMG

She remembers her grandfather – James Rukwaro Wandau – utilizing numerous tree merchandise to make concoctions that have been used on human beings and cattle alike. He was additionally a strolling nature’s encyclopedia.

“He knew rather a lot about timber and was eager on passing on that info to us,” she says. “This artwork of story telling is the inspiration behind Mizizi Eco circle. Within the days of outdated, kids belonged to the society and oldsters have been collectively accountable to go on societal values to all kids. Sadly, this isn’t the case right now and plenty of conservation wealth and knowledge is getting misplaced as a result of those that had it are not there,” the character lover says.

Maybe it was this data that conserved the Meru Oak whose wooden she used the primary time for her kitchen cabinetry. With Mizizi Eco Circle, she hopes to make to make sure that the values are handed on to the approaching generations.

“It’s not a secret that our surroundings is in dangerous form. In truth, the highest three crises dealing with humanity right now are local weather change, air pollution, and lack of biodiversity. The setting we’re leaving our youngsters in is way worse state than what we inherited from our personal dad and mom. It’s, subsequently, our accountability to champion environmental conservation but additionally put together our youngsters to proceed with this lengthy after we’re gone,” Ms Gichugu, a mom herself says.

Sadly, most youngsters don’t get to discover nature as a result of their dad and mom aren’t enthusiastic about nor concerned with it.

Since Greenit Decors launched the programme, they’ve labored with numerous faculties to introduce kids to nature. On the centre kids come, uncover and be taught concerning the magnificence and magic of nature.

A gardener as nicely, Ms Gichugu shares that when kids are available in initially, they aren’t positive of what to anticipate. However she quickly wins them over along with her pleasure as she reveals them round.

On today of the interview, I get to observe the route the individuals take.

Courses start with a tour across the space. Although she walks quick from one spot to a different, she speaks slowly to make sure that I perceive the whole lot she’s displaying me. I suppose she does the identical for the youngsters too.

We stroll by the plant maze the place she talks concerning the timber, after which by the potting, propagating station, recycling, composting and vermiculture and vermicast stations.

There’s additionally an natural backyard part with greens for kids to see and contact. I wasn’t courageous sufficient to the touch the worms within the vermiculture bins. The tour ends in a mordenised conventional grass-thatched round hut (banda), maybe paying homage to the olden days.

“We get to work together with kids and ask what they’ve seen or loved through the stroll. The vermiculture stations is a favorite due to the worms since they get to the touch them,” she explains.

With the speculation over, it’s time to get their palms soiled. The kids are taught learn how to plant timber and are tasked with transferring indigenous timber into milk packets, which they’ll go dwelling with and nurture to life. They’re additionally given a journal the place they be aware down their ideas as they take care of it.

Planting indigenous timber is essential as a result of they’re constructed for this setting. Whereas there are some unique timber which might be invaluable, a few of them find yourself being invasive. In addition they don’t help native species corresponding to bees, beetles, and birds amongst others.

Catherine Gichungu, Director Greenit Decors posing for {a photograph} inside Indigenous timber seedlings at her gardens in Karen, Nairobi on June 6, 2022. PHOTO | EVANS HABIL | NMG

“Indigenous timber which might be fantastic for this are the Acacia, Cordia Africana, Cape chestnut, Croton, Dombeya, and Warbugia Ugandensis amongst others. Their African names additionally must be preserved as a result of they’re not solely significant however instructional.”

And on the finish of it, most youngsters don’t need to go dwelling. “A few of them type faces after they hear that it’s time to go away,” the passionate conservationist says.

What Ms Gichugu hopes for is that the time they spend in nature along with her burns in them a love for nature that lasts and is handed on.

As we half methods, a beetle flies and rests on my bag. Realizing that this was as soon as a worm, I hope that it’ll all the time have a spot to name dwelling as extra of us and our youngsters decide to environmental conservation for so long as it’s referred to as right now, for future generations.