Kai-hen-en: A Garden of Transformation

In Japanese, kai means renew and hen means change. Together they mean modification, alteration, change, transformation or innovation.

We want to transform traditional landscape into a perpetual, transformational learning experience for our students and the community.

Strengthening Cultural and Environmental Initiatives
This living laboratory will be used to introduce and promote learning opportunities about diverse cultures, environmental sustainability and other programs incorporating the ideal environment to visualize many curriculums that will relate to this culture.

Gardens for the Japanese people, unlike some other societies, are an important part of the culture. It is a major art form that expresses all the elements of what is typically Japanese: indirection, irregularity, naturalness, simplicity, suggestion, as well as the deep connection to nature that the Japanese people feel.

Curriculum and Learning Opportunities

Following is a list of some disciplines that will be able to benefit from this project.

• Japanese culture will be visible to the campus community in a central area so that it is readily accessible.
  • Community benefits provides ideas for the benefit of our community.
• Learning environment classes may use this garden to enhance many classes.
  • Educational benefits provides information to incorporate this area into your academic plans.

Sustainability
The garden will further the college’s goals to promote sustainability through:

• management of rainwater run-off from central campus hardscapes collected in pond, detention basins.
• use of native plants where possible (less watering)
• sustainable agriculture in an edible walkway