Herbal Garden Education for Students In Nepal

ECCA has been providing herbal garden education as well as gardening tools to enthusiastic school nature clubs since 2012. The objective was to provide young students an opportunity to be familiar with the use of medicinal and aromatic plants such that indigenous knowledge is also passed onto younger generation. Recent program included saplings and gardening tools support to two schools.

The program at Medha Secondary School, Bhaktapur started at 10 am on 9th November, 2016 and continued up to 3 pm. ECCA supported the nature club with 128 herbal plants and flowering plants as well as 4 spades, 4 pitchfork, 1 watering can, 1 bucket and 1 jug.

"There is a lot of space at the backyard of the school, which was unutilized. The house next to the backyard used to throw all their kitchen wastage and other rubbish at that space", shared one of the students. The foul smell and dirty scenario was noticed by the members of the nature club. As the members of the nature club were always passionate about gardening and the impact it can have on school environment, they initiated gardening program in co-ordination of ECCA. "I am glad we are finally able to turn this wasteland into something useful", shared one of the participants. "Thank you so much for the support." Now, the nature club has aimed for sustainable maintenance of the garden.

Similarly, ECCA supported the Saraswoti Secondary School nature club (in Thecho, Lalitpur) with 102 flowering and herbal plants, 4 spade, 4 pitchfork, 1 bucket and 1 jug. This nature club is actively functioning since 8 years.

Planting saplings during gardening program

Students jointly plant saplings

Before and after the gardening in Medha Secondary School; site A

Students plant saplings around the school premises

Before and after the gardening in Medha Secondary School; site B

The support has proven to be a huge encourgament for nature club of both the schools. We thank you for your support for making this possible.

“You reap what you sow.”

Bal Batawaran Nature Club of Shree Kali Devi Higher Secondary School of Lalitpur has been working hard since April 2015 earthquake to re-engage fellow school peers into creative activities. Now, three months long hard work of the club to rebuild school herbal garden is finally showing positive outcome as the garden is slowly flourishing back.

The garden was in ruins with the construction of temporary classrooms (which were built after the collapse of previous classrooms). Since then, the club has worked hard to bring all students together to re-establish the garden. Because of less fertile soil within the garden premise, the club also brought fertile soil from outside to plant herbal saplings.

Club members water the plants after school

“We have been watering and looking after the plants every day after school classes are over”, shares a nature club member. “Following discussion within the club, now each of the class is rotationally looking after the garden. Especially, class 8, 9 and 10 are active in garden protection”, shared Mr. Govinda, the nature club supervisor.

Herbal garden in care 

The garden now has over 20 local species of herbal plants. Among them are Acorus Calamus, Cymbopogon citrates, Justicia adhahota, Ocimum sanctum etc. The garden is slowly rejuvenating and the club is hopeful that it will be as beautiful as it was once.

We thank you for the continued support.