Nature & sacred

JULIAN KANE

Expressions of Nature and Sacred in Cities

EDUC 536:Urban Ecology Kathleen Wolf, Weston Brinkley

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Introduction

More than 80% of the U.S. population, and more than 50% of the world’s population lives in urbanized areas. As more people move into cities, Green Spaces are in jeopardy by developers. Our environment positively and negatively influences the lifestyles, preferences and values of residents. Green Spaces allow broaden participation in social life, give pleasant sensations, create community and culture, can offer peace for reflection and much more. Because so many of our sacred sites are ancient (stone circles, ruins, mountains, earth mounds), we can sometimes forget about the activeness and liveliness of the sacred. But the sacred is certainly not relegated to history. As well, the sacred is not only found in the religious realm (such as churches, synagogues, and mosques). According to naturesacred.org, “Sacred places are those spaces imbedded in everyday life that can elevate visitors into a deeper, healthier and more peaceful relationship with themselves, their neighbors, and the built world. Sacred place experiences provide time and the surroundings for respite from the pressures of urban living and an opportunity for a deeper human experience.� Some sacred spaces are innately so; others are intentionally designed. Nature is often a key element of sacred spaces, for air, water, sun and plants satisfy our basic needs, and connect to the deeper processes of life. We know that urban green spaces and parks are important for recreation and relaxation. Sacred spaces offer another level of experience as they lift the human spirit and offer the opportunity for individual and community transformation.

KANE

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Expression of Nature and Sacred in Cities Julian Kane November 9, 2015

Yu Garden Shanghai, China

Julian Kane

Proposal Introduction: Because so many of our sacred sites are ancient (stone circles, ruins, mountains, earth mounds), we can sometimes forget about the activeness and liveliness of the sacred. But the sacred is certainly not relegated to history. As well, the sacred is not only found in the religious realm (such as churches, synagogues, and mosques).

Research Objectives:

To demonstrate to elected officials, policy makers and developers the benefits of green spaces in cities. To explore the sacred nature spaces in cities as healers a way people

Why Is This Important:

Our environment positively and negatively influences the lifestyles, preferences and values of residents. Green Spaces allow broaden participation in social life.

Research Topics:

What is a Sacred City?

Tijuca Forrest – Rio de Janiero Yu Garden – Shanghai The Last Organic Outpost – Houston, Texas, USA

Conclusion:

We must be committed to the elimination of urban blight (structures no longer fulfilling their original intent) that drains the human spirit. Using nature to sustain the human spirit is critical.

KANE

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Expression of Nature and Sacred in Cities Yuyuan Garden – Shanghai, China

Julian Kane

Intro: What it is?

Yuyuan Garden is a famous classical garden located in Anren Jie, Shanghai. It is an extensive Chinese garden located beside the City God Temple in the northeast of The Old City of Shanghai, China. Dating back to the Ming era, the temple once housed the patron god of Shanghai.

What makes it a sacred space?

According to Kathleen Wolf in The Sacred and Nearby Nature in Cities, “The outcome of the sacred space experience are portable, and effects continue for some time following. In recognition of this extended benefit some people will ‘self-dose’ with intentional experiences, seeking to set up a continuous flow of positive outcomes from visit to visit.”

Walking through this oasis, you can forget that you are in a major international city. People often go to this place to recharge. You can find children tossing pieces of bread to the goldfish. You will find people taking pictures, explaining the historical importance of the place to their kids, and other peaceful things.

How it got created?

It was finished in 1577 by a government officer of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) named Pan Yunduan. Yu in Chinese means pleasing and satisfying, and this garden was specially built for Pan's parents as a place for them to enjoy a tranquil and happy time in their old age.

KANE

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Expression of Nature and Sacred in Cities Tijuca Forrest – Rio de Janeiro Julian Kane December 15, 2015

Intro: What it is?

The Tijuca Forest is a tropical rainforest in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It is claimed to be the world's largest urban forest, covering some 12.4 mi². The Tijuca Forest is home to hundreds of species of plants and wildlife, many threatened by extinction, and found only in the Atlantic Rainforest. The vegetation is so dense that scientists have estimated that ambient temperatures in surrounding areas have been lowered by up to 9 °C. The forest also contains some 30 waterfalls.

What makes it a sacred space?

According to Kathleen Wolf in The Sacred and Nearby Nature in Cities, “The experience of being in the moment and enjoying the basic, simple pleasures that nature provides is striking.”

How it got created?

“After being used for sugarcane and coffee plantations by many years, the area was widely devastated, which caused a huge imbalance in drinking water sources. To put a halt on this shortage, King Dom Pedro II ordered a full reforestation over all area, that took thirteen years to be done, and where over 100,000 seedlings of native species were planted. This initiative have eventually transformed this public space in one of the biggest urban green area ever planted by man, a true Natural Heritage with many attractions.” - http://jeeptour.com.br/en/roteiros/floresta-da-tijuca/

How it relates to Environmental Education?

The Tijuca Forest is an ideal space to promote environmental education, with its trails, lakes, fountains and caves. The Tijuca Forrest can be used as an example in which teachers can show students the benefits in reforestation and how the ecosystem is codependent on each other. And can also be shown how human intervention can reverse some side effects of global warming.

KANE

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Expression of Nature and Sacred in Cities The Last Organic Outpost Julian Kane December 15, 2015

Intro: What it is?

The Last Organic Outpost(TLOO) generates healthy communities and establishes a local food economy in Houston's under-served neighborhoods through urban farming and farm-based art & education. TLOO empower communities through sustainable agriculture that teaches residents to produce safe, healthy and accessible food for all. The Last Organic Outpost is currently focusing it's efforts on the neglected Fifth Ward neighborhood’s food desert. They established a local food economy by training farmers in non-conventional, but sustainable, environmentally sound methods, establish community farms and encourage farm and local food related businesses in the Fifth Ward.

What makes it a sacred space?

The Last Organic Outpost creates community through people sharing experiences of farming and by developing relationship to the people that come there and the land. According to Kathleen Wolf in The Sacred and Nearby Nature in Cities, “Many terms indicated the social importance of sacred spaces… There is a particular satisfaction and pleasure if loved ones and good friends share the beneficial experience. The commitment of a community of people that share in stewardship of a site enhanced the experiences of the space.”

How it got created?

Joe Icet used his pension to buy a 2.5 acre abandoned lot in Houston’s Fifth Ward to create The Last Organic Outpost. After purchasing the land, he had a few tons of soil dumped on to the land.

In addition to growing food, the farm has become a food systems laboratory. A loading dock has been transformed into a hydroponic garden. Next to it is a 4,500-gallon rain collection system, and an 11,000-gallon fish tank in which a team is planning to harvest blue crab. Community KANE

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members are researching the electrical and water systems, and creating the technology to provide solutions.

How it relates to Environmental Education?

Food access is one of the biggest environmental justice issues. They teach residents about healthy nutrition, urban agriculture, and sustainability. Through urban farming, education, experimentation, arts, and cultural events, The Last Organic Outpost offers solutions for dozens of problems facing people in cities. The farm is the only oasis in a food desert. There is little other healthy food available for folks in the neighborhood who lack the means to travel several miles.

KANE

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Educational Activities

Activity for Younger Elementary Students: Learning To Respect Natural Habitats Find out what animals the students in the class care about. Look at pictures, read books, and learn a bit about those animals. It was a good opportunity to discuss the natural habitats of animals and how we should respect them. Have the students fill a tray with objects that might be in a that particular animals environment: rocks, sticks, leaves, sand, dirt, and water. Then we talked about what that animal might need to eat, and use a small toy or something to represent the food. Then ask the students what would happen if someone came by and dumped trash, poisoned the water, or got rid of all the animal’s food. Then discuss the importance of keeping the water and land clean and free of waste so that the animals can live safely. One practical way we can help the animals and their habitats is by making sure we don’t litter and serving the community by picking up trash when we see it in nature.

Regrow Vegetables

Give students a list of vegetable scraps that they must bring at least one of the items in. Have students place the vegetables in bowls of water and place the vegetables in the window seal. Ask students to make a hypothesis on what happens. Each day allow students to look at their vegetables, measure, and take notes on what has happened. Then allow them to replant them after a week and a half or so. The goal of this activity is to teach students about food access and teach the students basic gardening techniques.

From Farm to Table Students (and adults, too) know surprisingly little about the origin of the food they eat every day.

In this lesson, students compile lists of frequently eaten foods and then take a trip to the local supermarket to research their origin by analyzing food displays or speaking with the grocer.

What are the consequences of eating grapes from Chile or corn from Mexico? Are there economic or health advantages to eating locally grown fruits and vegetables? Should grocers provide origin information for the produce they sell? These are just a few of the issues students can explore in this lesson. There's also ample opportunity to extend the lesson through action, by visiting a local farmers' market and talking with growers or starting their own vegetable garden at school.

KANE

Expressions of Nature and Sacred in Cities

Reference: 1. "Rio De Janeiro - Tijuca National Park". Hidden Journeys - explore the world from the air.

Retrieved 12/19/2014.

2. http://jeeptour.com.br/en/roteiros/floresta-da-tijuca/ 3. Http://naturesacred.org/. (n.d.). Retrieved December 12, 2015.

4. http://www.lastorganicoutpost.com/. (n.d.). Retrieved December 10, 2015.

5. Wolf, K. (2015). The Sacred and Nearby Nature in Cities.

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