How it works
1
Volunteers, families and kids who are enrolled in the program can pickup kits at participating Home Depots or by contacting us. The program begins in 4th grade and ends in 8th grade.
2
After the Home Depot pickup or specially arranged delivery, BioBoxes are distributed to kids in marginalized communities through schools, community centers, churches and anywhere sponsoring a BioBox program.
3
The leaders of these programs will demonstrate to kids how to assemble and begin these miniature gardens and green spaces. Instructions are also included in the BioBoxes and available online to view, download or print.
4
Each year the program curriculum and projects build on the previous lessons to align with grade level. This scaffolding is essential for building skills and ultimately promoting community involvement. More details in the LEARN section.
Contents + Assembly
The first BioBox kit contains:
• box panels
• 4 seed packets (oregano, dill, cilantro, basil)
• sustainable liner
• soil
• instruction and activity guides
The following video shows the contents and assembly of the first BioBox kit.As kids progress through the program the kits will contain items for different projects, including guides and extensions.
BioBox In Your Home
The first BioBox kit is an indoor herb garden. Herbs are easy to grow and require minimal sunlight. Here are some examples of how the first BioBox kit would live in your home. Each year the program creates new opportunities to build and extend like the wall of boxes seen below.
Make it your own
The plain panels in the first BioBox kit allows kids to
personalize their mini garden to make it their own.
BioBox Extensions
There are a million ways to expand your garden or green space. These extensions range from very simple and inexpensive projects to complex systems and structures. Here are some examples of how children and communities can create fun, interactive and beautiful spaces which benefit everyone. BioBox provides project kits and plans to get started.
BioBox Benefits
By growing vegetables in micro-gardens, marginalized communities can improve their own food and nutrition security. In addition to dietary benefits, the exposure to plants, nature and other natural materials have been shown to provide benefits in the following areas:
Improved General Mood and Attitude
A study that compared meditative and athletic walking in forest and indoor settings showed that in both environments meditative walking generated more positive psychological effects than athletic walking. Other investigators have found evidence of lower frustration and increased brain activity, resembling meditation, when moving in green space versus being in retail and commercial areas that have no trees. Also, meditative walking in the forest was the most effective at increasing happiness, defined as the presence of a positive emotional mindset. Psychologists know that being happy broadens how a person thinks about and acts in the daily flow of life’s efforts, creating positive intellectual and psychological resources.
Stress Reduction
Stress is a major contributor to ill health. Left unresolved, long-term stress can lead to immune system issues and illness. The experience of nature is one antidote to stress, and the body’s positive response is remarkably fast, occurring within minutes. Studies by environmental psychologists show that visual exposure to nature, in the form of trees, grass and flowers, can effectively reduce stress, particularly if initial stress levels are high.
Better Mental Health and Functioning
Experiences of nearby nature contribute to better mental health and improve one’s capacity to be productive according to Attention Restoration Theory. Modern life often demands sustained focus on projects, and this effort can lead to cognitive overload, bringing on irritability and an inability to function effectively, often with physical symptoms. Views or brief experiences of nearby nature help to restore the mind from mental fatigue, as natural settings provide respite from the highly focused attention needed for most tasks in school or at work. This may contribute to higher productivity in the workplace, as research shows that office workers with a view of nature are better able to attend to tasks, report fewer illnesses and have higher job satisfaction. Increased time of nature experience (up to 1.5 hours) increases the restorative effect.
Improved Mindfulness and Creativity
Contemporary lifestyles are very busy, and there is a greater need for intentional time-outs to be mindful. Studies of mindfulness workshops, held for both mentally healthy and clinically depressed individuals, show benefits of improved mood, cognitive function and immune response. Nature settings offer sensory inputs that are mentally restorative and can foster ideation. In a study of creative professionals, nature experiences enhanced creativity by evoking new ways of thinking, promoting curiosity and encouraging more flexible thinking. A nature recharge may support creativity, as the restored mind is better at analyzing and developing ideas.