As a teacher at Oakhurst Elementary School, she also sought to inspire her second and third grade students with an appreciation for nature. She recalls one field trip when a few students \u2013 taking a break from leaf rubbings and turtle-watching \u2013 presented her with poems of their own, bringing tears to her eyes.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is my goal,\u201d Harsha said. \u201cTo get them to appreciate nature at an early age, and just realize how nurturing it can be.\u201d<\/p>\n
About five years ago, she and her photographer friend Tricia Nickerson decided to collaborate and combine their respective talents.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019d get together once in a while, and say, \u2018Oh so this poem fits this picture, but I need you to go take a picture of a marmot because I have this marmot poem,\u2019\u201d Harsha said. \u201cOr she would say, \u2018I really want to use this duck picture, so can you write a poem about a duck,\u2019 or a great blue heron or something.\u201d<\/p>\n
Finally, they decided to publish their work. They found an eager publisher last June, and this past October, \u201cWandering Off: Nature\u2019s Notable Nourishments\u201d was published.<\/p>\n The photo-poetry pairing also can allow more people to access her writing, Harsha said.<\/p>\n \u201cAny way you can bring more poetry to people,\u201d she said. \u201cIf it\u2019s through photography, then that\u2019s great.\u201d<\/p>\n