Vision

Our vision is to support enthusiasm and knowledge for gardening, growing and purpose with our youth. To provide a safe, inclusive and curious environment where students can explore gardening, food resourcing and resiliency in the face of climate change and economic obstacles. To encourage problem solving and independence in sourcing foods that are healthy and to build teamwork with collaboration and positivity. Our hope is to name this garden, Peace Garden, after a very special teacher who exemplified growing, gardening and sustainability – Mr. Kean.

Action

A small number of committee members began the planning and action to complete grant requests for materials. All students, population of approx. 400, were invited to join the Gander Elementary’s garden group. Many students from each classroom, with some gardening knowledge to no experience, joined in. Weather this spring, held back our planting procedures, however have now begun the process for growing into the summer months. A number of classrooms in our school continue their indoor efforts with composting/food cycling, LOMI, and gathering scraps all year long. Every student in our building has now viewed, questioned and learned what can be composted and what cannot. A harvest is expected in the fall.

Reflection & Celebration

There is no stopping the momentum of gardening, composting/food cycling and growing in our school community. From the students who walk the cafeteria with buckets to collect food scraps for composting, to the students who are getting their hands dirty and planting seeds and potatoes – all are learning. Our anticipated harvest in the fall hopes to only increase student knowledge and motivation to problem solve climate interruptions and grow with success. We are excited and hopeful to build capacity for gardening, growing and sustainability for many years to come – with one harvest at a time.

Celebrating the learning and successful growing of food and plants through a harvest. Students may then celebrate the success of our hopeful crop with food preparation and sampling, chopped veggies and/soup.

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