The Alternative Consumer

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Wednesday, October 18, 2006

Nurture Nature Redux


My daughter thinks she’s a fairy…or at least she wishes it so. She is not alone in this pursuit, as many of her friends believe the same. They are often seen fluttering about in the yard, spinning imaginative fairy yarns as they fly by. To indulge her fancy, we recently visited a local gardening center which hosted a reading of fairy stories by renowned author/illustrator Tracy Kane who has created a delightful collection of books and videos. Best of all the children were encouraged to bring along materials to use in building fairy houses so that wandering fairies might have a place to rest. As Kane pointed out, there are only 2 rules in fairy house architecture: use nothing man made, and use nothing living. Her goal is to remind children of the often forgotten essence of Nature. She wishes “to connect children to nature in a gentle way that inspires rather than instructs.”

With a large tree trunk for support, my daughter constructed a 3-story fairy house, complete with a swing made from a bittersweet branch, 2 bedrooms with corn stalk beds, and a lovely pathway lined with sea shells she’d collected on Cape Cod this summer. Not to be outdone, I built a thatched cottage style house, where my proper English fairies would surely be encouraged to drop in for tea. Ms. Kane stopped by every new house in the fairy community to provide food for the imminent arrival of the fairies. Since then, I’ve found several fairy houses in our garden, and grandma has spied at least one in hers. Seems the lesson has taken hold. Find out more at www.fairyhouses.com. /jb

8 Comments:

Blogger Chandira said...

Ahh,, awesome.. She can come build one in my new garden any time!! :-)

5:14 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

What a beautiful concept to make the fairy houses from nothing man made or living. Wish my house was built that way. Great to be your guest this week, with best wishes, The Artist

6:30 AM  
Blogger Louise said...

What a lovely idea. I'm 25 and I'm going to go out and make myself a fairy house first thing tomorrow morning!

3:16 PM  
Blogger rinaz said...

Aww a faerie garden :) How very sweet and creative. How come I never thought of doing that in my childhood? :)

6:41 AM  
Blogger Galli Galli Sim Sim said...

Chandira,
always good to hear from you! best of luck in that new garden.
jb

9:53 PM  
Blogger Galli Galli Sim Sim said...

To our Artist,
the fairies homes are so unique they are works of art themselves. thanks for adding your visual impact as well.
jb

9:55 PM  
Blogger Galli Galli Sim Sim said...

Dear elusive loo,
you're never too old for some things, like digging in the dirt and crafting something wonderful. hope your fairy house is perfect!
jb

9:56 PM  
Blogger Galli Galli Sim Sim said...

Dear Marina,
Seems to me that imaginary wanderings are just what Nature ordered even in grown-uphood. Indulge!
jb

9:59 PM  

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