What Can Plants Teach You?

Students in his class got to work on a year-long project focused on space exploration. We wrote a "Rocket Report" in pairs, and the best part was when we built and launched rockets at the end of the school year. This was the early 1980s when the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) was focused on developing reusable spacecraft. My partner, Lupe Espinosa, and I clipped articles about astronauts and the Columbia space shuttle from the local newspaper for our report. I kept that report well into adulthood because we worked hard on it over a long time, and I was proud of it. It may still be in my basement somewhere.

If you look up  "teacher" online, you'll find this definition "a person who teaches, especially in a school" (teacher definition - Search (bing.com)). But we also learn from beings that aren't people and experiences that aren't a part of formal education. Our dog, Jojo Parker, teaches me to let things go and live in the moment every day as she greets me when I come home. And I recently attended a professional development training with a group of colleagues and was taught that having a community creates connection, support, and a sense of belonging. Shouldn't anything or anyone we learn from be considered teachers too?

Recently, I guest taught a class for a colleague, Kirsty Lloyd, who asked, "What can plants teach us?". This reminded me of Robin Wall Kimmerer, who wrote Braiding Sweetgrass (Robin Wall Kimmerer), a book about plants as teachers. She asked, "If plants are our teachers, what are their lessons, and how might we become better students?" (plantsareteachers.org). I love these questions and presented them to some Extension Educators. Our responses are below.

• This is probably a lesson that all horticulture folks can identify with—plants are more susceptible to disease and insect pressure when they are stressed. Whether it be extreme water, extreme temps, or poor nutrition—these all contribute to a plant's ability to remain healthy. The same is true for me! Focusing on eating well, staying hydrated, and getting a good night's sleep is a good way to stay on top of life's stressors and not feel run down. Disease and pestilence will always be out there for plants and us, and taking care of ourselves should be a priority.—Leah Fronk, Horticulture Extension Educator based in Juniata County.

• Another "lesson" is just because you don't like a certain plant/person doesn't mean it isn't important. I don't especially care for Redbud trees because of their prolific self-seeding and then the need to pull all the seedlings. I also find it to be weak-wooded. However, there is no denying the beauty of the spring bloom of this plant along roadsides and in our forests. When I see it, I know spring is here. In comparison, I may not agree with something someone says or does, but it doesn't mean there isn't value in what they are saying or the person as a whole. It takes all kinds of… to make this world go around, and that is the beauty of it.—Joni Davis, Pennsylvania Rural Health Farm Worker Protection Safety Specialist.

• When I worked in plant conservation, I always thought it was interesting that the most endangered plants always have narrow niches and very specific growing requirements. Contrary to these, the most successful invasive plants often have very general growing requirements and seem to be adaptable to changing conditions. Some view invasives as tenacious. I view them as adaptable and happy to roll with the punches. I don't want to place too much value on invasives, but I do admire this trait about them and think it's something we could learn from.—Glen Bupp, Horticulture Extension Educator based in Butler County.

• I think plants have taught me to be patient. In cool springs, seeds take a long time to germinate, but they will eventually germinate. Seedling fruit trees require 5 to 8 years to produce fruit. We can often manipulate the tree to reduce the time by 2 or 3 years, but a tree will bloom when it is ready to bloom.—Rich Marini, Professor of Horticulture, Penn State (retired)

• Communities are stronger when they are diverse. The Irish Potato Famine is a classic example; relying on a single potato variety as the main source of calories set the stage for a plant disease to cause a devastating famine. On the other hand, the three sisters' system (a traditional Indigenous people's method of planting corn, beans, and squash in combination) is an example of how diverse plants work together and reduce farming risks.—Elsa Sánchez, Professor of Horticulture Systems Management, Penn State

Your turn! If you want to share something you've learned from plants, send it to ess11@psu.edu. We'll share your responses in another article if we receive enough of them.