A project exploring arts, aesthetics and ecology combined with holistic environmental learning on a small coastal farm in North Norway. Venue: Skagstad Farm, Engeløya, North Norway. Duration: Total of 14 days spread over 9 months in 2008.
Our aim was to explore how art and aesthetic experiences could be integrated into environmental education and science, based on the idea of “the farm as an educational resource.” A class of 11–12-year-old pupils from the local school came to the farm one day a week to take part. Throughout the year, we emphasised developing the children’s sensitivity to the changing environment on the farm. Curiosity, creativity, and joy in learning were at the heart of the project. Using the farm and the changing seasons as our framework, we focused on holistic learning, where nature, culture, environment, the senses, and local food were closely connected. Each session had its own theme, such as Stones – Trouble and Pleasure, Fire, From Sunshine to Grain, and Natural Sounds. Art was integrated throughout the project.
The children rotated between three workstations: a kitchen group, a farm group, and an arts group. Our goal was to give them practical knowledge and skills, connect theory with hands-on experience, and support each child’s interests in a positive and nurturing environment.
The activities ranged from building a traditional boat slip from stones and wooden poles, cooking carrot soup from local produce, baking bread with stone-ground flour, chopping and stacking wood, selecting seed potatoes, listening to and recording natural sounds at a beach , building stone towers, learning basic forging and much more.
For more photos and recipes (in Norwegian), see the project BLOG
