2016-02-10Staff Report 2 Windhoek Talented Namibian artist and international art award winner, Kirsten Wechslberger, will be hosting gardening classes at Kirsten Wechslberger Art Studio this Friday. Children aged six to 16 years are invited to learn about nature and creating a sustainable environment. She will be teaching the children the 12 principles of permaculture design, which include observing and interacting with nature; learning how to catch and store energy; how to expand their yield; creatively use and respond to change; use edges and value the marginal; use and value diversity; learn to work in manageable chunks; integrate different elements of the garden; design on a grand scale by adding details together; produce no waste; learn to use and value renewable resources, and last but not least, learn to become self-reliant. “They are not just gardening classes, but rather something closer to permaculture where one learns to live from nature to create a sustainable environment. I started the classes because I enjoy the concept of sustainable living very much and it has become a new passion of mine. I love sharing this information with others, especially kids,” says Wechslberger. The lessons that started around last September saw children learn all kinds of things that have to do with nature – not just planting, but how things work together and how to utilise resources most efficiently. The children also get to learn about the soil, ecosystems and how these all fit together. “The classes are geared to learning in a fun way and are a mix of practical and theoretical stuff,” she says. The classes on Fridays last from 15h30 to 17h00 and the fee is N$450 per child per month. 2016-02-10Staff Report 2
