One of the courses I took during my pass/fail first semester here at Swarthmore was Plants and Human Culture, taught by Professor Susan Barton. I took this class because, as someone who loves plants, I found the title and description of the course interesting. Little did I know at the time, this course would completely change the way I see landscapes and my understanding of the ways in which humans interact with the plant world.
The first reading we were given for the class was an excerpt from John R. Stilgoe’s “Outside Lies Magic,” and I still remember my experience of reading this. It was my first college assignment, and I was an eager little first-year student who was curious about everything. I was sitting outside in the Kohlberg courtyard, computer open and eyes fixed on the material in front of me. It was unusually calm, and almost no one else was around. I was absolutely transfixed by this reading, devouring every single word and absorbing the information and perspective it held. It was the moment I truly felt myself becoming a Swattie, as I completely lost myself in this book and eagerly went from page to page.
And thus began my journey of discovering the world of landscape and the interplay between humans and the plant kingdom.
Throughout this course, Professor Barton showed us how landscapes shape the “sense of place” across various locations, giving them their unique character and making them enjoyable to be in. We learned about the elements of landscape design, the ways in which humans interact with landscapes and the environment, and how we can create sustainable landscapes that benefit local ecosystems and the world. We also completed a semester-long observation project, in which we chose a spot on campus to regularly observe through the semester and noted how people interact with it. We then used our observations to present what components of a landscape engage people the most and describe how we would design a garden space to engage the community.
We also looked at how humans across the world and through time have interacted with plants. From the advent of agriculture to the lush gardens of modern landscapes, the tale of humans and plants spans millennia and is as storied as it is beautiful. Seeing the history of the interactions of humans and plants puts into perspective how influential plants are in our lives and just how much we rely on our leafy neighbors on the tree of life.
One overarching theme of this course that has stayed with me is the practice (or really, art) of observation. When we take the time to slow down and observe our environment and take in everything around us, amazing things happen. We notice things we have never seen before. We connect with our environment and begin to see the beauty in our surroundings. Everything changes when you take the time to intentionally observe your environment and create a meaningful connection with it.
Plants and human culture is among my favorite courses I have taken here at Swarthmore and actually inspired me to major in environmental studies. Taking time to engage with the landscape and notice the patterns in the environment changed the way I view the world, and I am so glad I decided to take this course.