Neighborhood provides children hands-on experience with nature

At a community farm located 100 meters from a kindergarten in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, nine distinctive paths decorated with different materials — such as volcanic rock, granite and cobblestones — have taken shape.

"This is the children's solution to the dirty and muddy ground, and each class is responsible for improving one path," said Xu Wei, head of the Xianghu Kindergarten in Xiaoshan district's Xianghu Community.

"One kid told me that grasping a handful of cobblestones and putting them in the fresh cement is both interesting and fulfilling."

With funding and support from the education bureau and the community, the kindergarten is committed to offering high-quality education to children. Located a short walk from the children's homes, the 2,500-square-meter farm is devoted to nature education, igniting children's curiosity and guiding them to discover the answers to their questions through exploration and hands-on participation.

"Teachers at our kindergarten pay special attention to children's creativity and independent thinking, blending their ideas and efforts in the building of the farm," Xu said.

The farm offers a variety of activities, including planting vegetables, breeding animals and catching fish and shrimp.

The vegetables are carefully chosen for their low-maintenance and unique growth characteristics.

For broad beans, for example, a point seeding method is used that requires climbing trellises. This helps children learn more about nature subtly and unconsciously while nurturing their practical skills and cultivating a sense of responsibility.

Early in October, children observed the wilting of a Chinese cabbage and checked the leaves under a magnifying lens.

After seeking advice from their grandparents and community elders, they tried various methods to control pests, such as spraying lime water, sprinkling diluted salt water and placing bug stickers. Whatever the method, the vegetables were saved.

"Most of the elderly in our district used to be farmers, who serve as technical support of our planting activities and develop deeper connections with their kids in the process," Xu said.