Vision

After reading about the life of a honeybee and learning more about the importance of bees to our local ecosystems and food supplies, the idea of starting a pollinator garden in an existing outdoor space we had at the school began to take root. Getting the students involved in direct action that would result in a viewable and accessible area for outdoor hands-on learning seemed like a terrific way for them to both make an impact on their local environment, as well as learn about the various needs of plants and the process of pollination.

This project relates to sustainability because bee colony collapse is both a result of and could lead to even more devastating, impacts of climate change. Creating a pollinator-friendly green space in our school will hopefully benefit the local pollinator population and spread awareness about the importance of pollinators in our ecosystem as well as the threats to them.

Action

Students brainstormed what plants would need in order to grow. Then, they started with doing some clean-up in a small school outdoor space that we have. The students started with removing invasive plants that might interfere with the growth of new pollinator plants. Afterwards, the students spread soil around, decided what plants should go where in the garden, and then planted the seeds. The students also created compostable bird feeders to hang around our garden and school grounds as well.

Thanks to donations from community members, we received free pots, so the students planted some more plants in the pots to take home to their families. Since our outdoor garden space is quite small, the students also made compostable seed bombs using soil, native wildflower seeds, and paper mache. Then, the students walked around our school and spread the wildflower seed bombs around the edges of our large grass field.

Reflection & Celebration

Planting a pollinator garden has been a wonderful experience for students, fostering both educational growth and social awareness. Through hands-on involvement, students have deepened their understanding of ecosystems, the importance of biodiversity, and the crucial role pollinators play in food production. Taking care of a garden and doing that in a hands-on way has helped strengthen a sense of responsibility and stewardship for the environment. Working together in buddy classes, this also cultivated a spirit of teamwork and shared purpose among the students. Going forward, the students are hopefully inspired to grow their own pollinator gardens at home using the starter plants they took home.