At The Mulberry Tree, we use natural materials like wood, cloth, paper, wax, clay, paint, and wire. Instead of plastic toys and gimmick toys, we choose materials that lend themselves to discovery and wonder. Nature frames our day. Children harvest vegetables and fruits from the garden. Nature inspires our science and art projects. Plants and plant parts are frequent elements of projects (for example, grapevine wreaths). We have lots of opportunity to play in the dirt! Experts such as Jack Gilbert, Faculty Director of the Microbiome Center at the University of Chicago and author of “Dirt is Good”, note an abundance of research that indicates that early exposure to garden soil can benefit a child’s immune system for his entire life.