Environmental Technology co-op student spreads seeds of knowledge

Environmental concerns weigh heavily on Kaylin Henry’s mind. These concerns drew Henry to Camosun’s Environmental Technology program, which provides practical and hands on experience in environmental management with a strong academic science background. In Henry’s third and final year, she embarked on a life altering adventure for her co-operative work experience and spent three months volunteering in India for a non profit organization, Fertile Ground.

Travelling with another Camosun Environmental Technology student, Laura Colquhoun, along with a graduate student from UBC, Henry set upon a long and arduous journey to Digboi, Assam in North East India. The students had to fund their own travel expenses, although upon arrival in Digboi, they received room and board in Digboi Women’s College hostel for the duration of the work term.

Kaylin Henry was fortunate to receive the Irving K. Barber scholarship, which helped significantly with the costs of her trip. (The Irving K. Barber One World Scholarship is available to eligible Camosun students pursuing part of their post-secondary studies, co-op work experiences, internships, or other approved experiential learning activities overseas.)

Fertile Ground’s project in India, the Ideal Green Project, began two years ago with a demonstration organic garden. Fruits and vegetables are grown and then the produce is sold to the families in the surrounding neighbourhood. Through public outreach, farmers are taught sustainable agricultural practices and the dangers of chemical pesticide use. The students took part in presentations delivered in nearby villages to promote safe fertilization and pest control. To overcome the language barrier, the students developed short plays in which they involved local children by dressing them up as bugs and other avatars for the natural world to communicate the message of safe and sustainable farming. When the students were not involved in delivering presentations, they enjoyed working in the demonstration garden, planting, weeding and mulching. Henry taught visitors to the garden how to compost using worms—vermicomposting—and also how to make natural pesticides from chillies, onions, and garlic.