This is the fifth “Land Lovers” profile, compiled by local Guelph artist, writer and Ignatius land lover, Dawn Matheson. Please reach out to us If you are a lover of our fields and forests, flora and fauna and want to share in the wonder. We’d like to profile you.
“North 44° Academy” (north44academy.com) is a nature-based preschool and K-8 elementary school, located right here at Orchard Park. Jess House, Program Supervisor & Facilitator, introduced me to three students full of delight: Olivia, Otis and Benjamin, caretakers to magical places such as Muddy Mountain, The New World, and Dinosaur Tree; locations you won’t find listed on the property map, but, very real.
In this interview, the threesome decide to tell me about Belly Bridge. Permission was given for this article and pictures.
Who are you? What do you want us to know about you?
Olivia: I’m Olivia, and I like playing A LOT, and I’m five. I’m going to go to the forest next.
Otis: I’m Otis. I like picking flowers for my mom. I’m four.
Benjamin: I’m Elsa [for today] and I want you to know that I love to pick buttercups. And, I’m five.
How do you spend your time out on the land?
Benjamin: I spend my time playing with Jess’s hair. [the teacher]
Olivia: I like playing with Otis.
Otis: I make mud pies. You make it out of mud and it turns into a pie and you cook it in an oven.
Olivia: Yes. You put water and load sand in with a shovel and you have to mix it like this. [gestures stirring] Then, you put it in a spoon and serve it into your hands.
Benjamin: Once my dad saw a bug and he cooked it for lunch. It was actually good.
Olivia: We also climb trees [just to three feet] and we grow carrots, lettuce, onions and potatoes.
Otis: Over there in those gardens, there. [points]
Olivia: I chase Ivy at the Outdoor Kitchen.
Otis: Yeah, and we put more water in for the tadpole, yesterday.
Olivia: Look at me! [puts headband over her eyes]
Benjamin: We get the tadpoles from Belly Bridge Creek.
Otis: Belly Bridge is where we lie on our bellies to be close and see the water more deeper. Like, to see fishes like this. [puts hands to face]
Benjamin: And, crocodiles.
Olivia: Hey, there is a wasp behind you!
Olivia: Guess what? This is not about our school but once we saw the older kids jump in the river.
Benjamin: Yeah, and once I saw my friend squish things.
Olivia: There’s actually no crocodiles.
Otis: We saw a beaver.
All together: It made a dam!
Otis: It is super close to the bridge. It is this close. [gestures]
Benjamin: No, it’s this close. [gestures]
Otis: No. This close. [gestures]
Olivia: The beaver makes its dam out of mud but with branches in it. A lot longer than mud pies.
Benjamin: I hope this is over soon so I can go play.
How do you give back to the land?
Olivia: I hug the trees. They feel it.
Otis: I say thank you to the land. I give the land flowers.
Olivia: I just climb the trees.
Otis: I say thank you, thank you, thank you, I love you, land. I wish. I love you and thank you for the fruit and vegetables.
Benjamin: Thank you, land, and, I give the land a car.
