Garden Educator Spotlight: Gavilán Rivas-Chavez
Gavilán (they/them) is the Bilingual Garden Educator at Kennedy-Longfellow School, Rafael Hernández School, Amigos School, and Fletcher-Maynard Academy. This is their second year with CitySprouts! Find out more about Gavilán below!
What’s been your proudest moment as a garden educator?
I am very proud of my students each time they decide to try something new, even if it may not be right away. There are many opportunities for this in the garden, such as by holding a new animal for the first time, or trying a new fruit or veggie. Being open to new experiences is an important skill to be able to expand one’s palate, knowledge, empathy, and joy! It encourages the acceptance of experiences or things that may be unknown or different. It also teaches students how to navigate challenging and scary experiences which often provide one with the opportunity to grow. It is especially endearing when students gently encourage each other to try new things, reassuring each other that they are safe, and that they will find joy in the experience.
What’s one important skill you believe gardening teaches kids that they can use outside the garden?
The garden teaches us that relationships are work! We are often encouraged to think that true love and belonging are things that flourish easily and naturally if they are “meant to be”... tell that to a needy tomato plant! If one wants to cultivate a relationship with a delicious veggie that will provide us with nutrients, or a flower that will brighten our day with its beauty, we have to care for its needs day after day. It takes a lot of continual effort to watch a garden bloom.
It is easy to become accustomed to being a “taker”. Think of the grocery store, one does not see the care that goes into the foods we eat, we are just there to take them as soon as they’re ready for us to consume. The garden teaches us how warm and joyful giving can feel, and how much more rewarding the results can be! If you roll up your sleeves and are prepared to put in the work to care for those around you, you will find abundance anywhere you go.
What’s a common misconception about gardening that you enjoy debunking with your students?
A common misconception is that the strength we will use the most in the garden is physical. It takes true strength, discipline, and courage to nurture life in a garden. It takes only an instant to end the life of a plant in the garden, but it is much more difficult to encourage it to grow and fruit. It takes a lot of mental and emotional strength to stop ourselves from acting on a reactive impulse, as does sharing the gifts of the garden!
Who is Gavilán outside of CitySprouts?
What’s your favorite place to explore in Boston/Cambridge?
Libraries! ☝️🤓📚 Local public libraries, personal home libraries, free libraries, there’s always so much to learn and share in one’s community!
What’s the strangest food combination you secretly love?
Chocolate Teddy Grahams and raisins! Pro tip: Don’t let the Teddy Grahams get stale…
What’s one fashion trend you would love to see make a comeback?
Tailored clothes and 100% natural fabrics! I’d love to see all sorts of bodies fit into the clothes they will love and care for for a long time.
Gavilán’s Favorites
Favorite food? - Fried plantain with beans cheese and cream
Favorite season? - Summer!!! I love the warmth, swimming, and picnics!
Favorite board game or video game? - 20 Questions (in theory… in practice it’s unlimited questions until I figure it out…) 😅