The First Planting of the Season

The Science Bus Trailer made its first appearance on an outing this month at a Community Farm Day in Jamestown. USIKO, our joint project partners, invited us to attend and participate in their event which was held in celebration of their 20th anniversary.

The day was jam packed with a host of exciting workshops and activities for local community members to partake in. The event was also open to the public who were encouraged to drop in, get involved and learn more about USIKO Stellenbosch, Cape Winelands Biosphere Reserve (CWBR), and be introduced to new educational possibilities and activities taught using the Science Bus Trailer. As well as find out more about USIKO and CWBR’s joint project, Mobile Minds.

A BRIEF TOUR

As people arrived, they first came upon the Science Bus Trailer, affectionately known as STEAMY (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and maths). The Trailer was used to assist in several activities throughout the day including presentations about the CWBR, teaching kids from the local Jamestown community how to fly a drone as well as taking a closer look at the beauty of the Simonsberg Mountains and surrounds through binoculars and a telescope.

As they walked further on in the USIKO Hub, they came across B Thomas, a CWBR facilitator, who taught them about propagation and seedlings, the correct way to plant seeds and how to upcycle rubbish in ways that can used in one’s food garden.

Since it was first launched, 8 months ago, the USIKO Hub has developed into a versatile space for learning and skills development. The space features a large Food Garden where seedlings were planted on the day to commemorate the anniversary and welcome in the new planting season. Z Lager facilitated the planting.

L De Jager, a current FGASA and Life Skills Culture guide student [and CWBR facilitator since 2015], taught children and adults how to evaluate the quality and health of a river system by observing and identifying the invertebrate species inhabiting them. Using the Minisass Method (Mini - Stream Assessment Scoring System). The participants tried out the minisass practice on the swales surrounding the rows of vegetable beds. And found tilapia and water skeeters.

Down by the river, the rhythmic sound of drumming could be heard. USIKO facilitators encouraged members of the public to participate in a drumming circle and later lit a ceremonial fire aiming to reconnect people with nature.

We would like to thank USIKO for hosting such a great event and allowing us to be part of the day’s festivities. We will be collaborating with them on future events this year in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Man and Biosphere Programme, and UNESCO’s 75th.

M Heistein, CWBR CEO, sharing insight of the Science Bus Trailer and the CWBR

With a hand full of spinach, freshly picked from the garden, enjoying binoculars and a telescope

A lesson on soil mix, and how to plant seeds correctly in trays

Observing the invertebrate from the river with a magnifying glass