Pots of Joy
Social change is a lot like gardening. Both require a belief in something that may not yet exist, but by gathering the right resources, planting the seeds, and continuing to take action towards the goal of bringing something new into fruition, eventually something beautiful will begin to grow. Sometimes, it may not last long. But with continual learning, persistence, and effort, eventually, it will grow strong enough to withstand the challenges it once faced.
Time: Several weeks
Skill: No technical skills required
Ages: Ages 5+
Pots of Joy is a craftivism project that you can complete over several weeks. Just like social change doesn’t happen overnight, neither will this project. There are several overlapping stages to this craftivism project; painting your pot of joy, planting the seeds, nourishing your seedlings, transplanting your plant to your pot, and displaying it.
If your pot of joy will be displayed in a public place or where others may see it, think about how you will decorate it. Craftivism is a form of gentle protest—is there a message that you want your pot of joy to share? While there is no restriction to the message you share, we’ve called this project Pots of ‘Joy’ because positive messages are much more powerful: if we want to create a more beautiful and kind world, our activism should reflect this. Once you have your message ready, it’s time to get painting!
Reflections & Crafterthoughts
Art is powerful for practicing self-care— it connects us to ourselves on a profound level, allowing us to listen to our thoughts and be reflective. Gardening and connecting with nature reduces negative emotions and helps to boost positive emotions, and also has a soothing impact on conditions like stress, anxiety, tension and fatigue. As you paint your pot of joy, think about what sustainability means to you. What actions do you take to promote sustainability, and what more could you do? What is your relationship with the natural world like? You may wish to gather a group of friends and create pots of joy together and discuss your own views on sustainability and the environment.