Vision

The vision was to create a sustainable extra curricular group for students. I created a Garden Club as an extra curricular opportunity for students in Grade 5. Having an interest in gardening myself, I wanted to take my passion and share it with students. Gardening is a great lifelong skill, increases mental health and overall wellness. Gardening creates a sense of joy.

Action

We purchased two beautiful cedar planter boxes which will be excellent for many years to come as well as some basic gardening tools. Many gently used shovels were generously donated for our group. Students worked together to fill with soil. We planted vegetables that can be harvested in the fall. These vegetables include beets, squash, potatoes, carrots, onion and peppers. Our goal is to meet again in the fall to harvest and make a meal or soup together using what we have grown.

We also cleaned up the school’s existing courtyard space- raking leaves, scraping weeds and cleaned up flower beds, while learning and observing spring plants growing.

We also collected and used recyclable containers for each student to plant two sunflowers. We read the seed packaging together. The sunflower seeds we selected to plant, can grow up to 5 meters tall! Students will take home their sunflowers to plant in their own gardens where they can observe changes throughout the summer.

Reflection & Celebration

Creating this group has been a very positive experience. In total, twenty-five students signed up for garden club. Students are eager to work together and ask many curious questions. Many staff and students have been curious about what we have been up to!