NATURALIST

  Exploring Medicinal Plants: Creating a Healing Garden at Avila. Emilin Edwin Morris Final year B. Ed Student, Avila College of Education, Edakochi Abstract This interdisciplinary study documents the creation of Kerala's first college-based medicinal plant garden at Avila College of Education, Edakochi. Combining ethnobotanical surveys with hands-on gardening initiatives, the project identified 25 native medicinal species with documented therapeutic properties ranging from antimicrobial to anticancer effects. Using qualitative methods including field surveys (November 2024-January 2025), expert consultations, and photographic documentation, the garden now serves 320+ students as a living laboratory. Key outcomes include a 67% increase in plant identification skills among participants and the establishment of community workshops on herbal medicine preparation. This initiative bridges Ayurvedic traditions with modern pedagogical approaches, offering a replicable model for edu...