Among the key activities carried out in the various gardens monitored by Transgardens, observing plant growth plays a central role. Sowing a seed, watching it germinate, grow, flower, bear fruit and in turn produce new seeds allows the children and adults involved to understand the full richness of the plant life cycle.
This activity, carried out at the Half Way House in Roosboom, South Africa, the Traversine garden in Paris, the Garden of skills in Eswatini, St Paul’s School in Lesotho and the inclusive school “Les Petits Princes” in Rufisque, Senegal, is both educational and practical. It invites participants to carefully observe each stage: the germination of seedlings, the development of stems and leaves, flowering, fruit formation, and finally the harvesting of seeds that will allow the cycle to begin again.
Beyond the scientific aspect, this approach reinforces awareness of the importance of preserving biodiversity and selecting local varieties adapted to the conditions of each garden. It is also a way of anchoring the practice of gardening in a sustainable vision: by learning how to harvest and store seeds, each group gradually becomes self-sufficient for the following seasons.
