Agraria Journal Winter 2021

Stomping feet, pitter-pattering downhill. The children’s legs needle toward the creek like a compass. From our drop-off area up by the office, the Agraria Nature School groups gather around the mulberry tree in our reforestation area to discuss the plans for the day’s explorations. After that, and left to their own body radars (the innate sense we possess to”just know” where to go based on our bellies, not our minds), the children (and adults too!) race off toward Jacoby Creek. Past the gardens, through the field, and into the cover of osage and walnut trees. Tiptoeing through the underbrush, most of the children that see the creek dive right in. Water. We are drawn to water. During an after-school day with the Trekker’s program, we are in the giant cottonwood glade, dubbed “The Village” by Nature Schoolers. “Everyone? Close your eyes,” I say. “Point to the nearest water.” Some hands point behind us, to the northwest. Some fingers jut out and stab at the air to the west. But most every arm is orienting generally toward the creek. The very special part of this, I muse, is that those who are pointing northwest are orienting toward where they have last experienced water. And those who are pointing directly west are orienting to where the creek is flowing closest to us—but a part of the creek that we have not seen yet! Hidden, but nearby. More amazing still, is that some of these folks are new members to our programs, who are experiencing this land at Agraria for the first time. They are sensing into the flow of water on the land, that this liquid being has past, present, and future motion, winding its way alongside us. Notice that I do not call water “it.” Water is a living being. I prefer to call fire, water, rock, air, “they.” Because like humans, they have spirit, lessons to teach, gifts to NATURE SCHOOL PEDAGOGY Water as an Equal: A Contemplation BY EMILY FOUBERT KELLY HUDSON Jacoby Creek was a popular destination for children in Agraria’s Food in the Forest Camp. 18 AGRARIA JOURNAL 2021