For the first three years of Al-Bustan Camp, a garden plot was provided by Morris Arboretum across the main Northwestern Avenue entrance of the Arboretum. We created a community garden using nature as a theme around which children could learn about Arab culture, and provided a setting to weave rich Arabic storytelling traditions.

As Al-Bustan Camp is no longer at Morris Arboretum, having relocated to Springside School since 2006, this page documents our activities in the early years of camp.

We used the garden from the spring through the fall, laying out the garden beds and paths in May.

Through a communal planting effort in May, which included camp teachers and organizers, past and prospective campers, parents and several volunteers, we created decorative artwork to hang in the garden and planted various vegetables, herbs and flowers commonly grown in the Arab region and used in Arabic cuisine -- cucumbers, green beans, squash/koosa, eggplant, mulukiya, tomatoes, zaatar, mint, jasmine, and more. . . .

One parent noted, "What a way to plant seeds of community - we really enjoyed ourselves," and another volunteer commented, "What was nicest about the entire effort was the creating of community - working and playing together while some political talk on the side. It was wonderful having so many different age groups together sharing in each other's gifts. . . ."