Upper Elementary

The main focus of building our garden is to teach our students how to own an idea, from concept to fruition. We constantly strive to instill the trait of responsibility in our students - teaching each class to be responsible for their own area of the garden, responsible for finding recipes we can try with the vegetables they grow and to ultimately take ownership of something that they created, nurture and love.

Currently, we have an outdoor classroom with 6 raised beds. Our students use these beds to grow the "parts of the plant". (For example, beets for roots in one bed, asparagus for stem in another, cabbage for leaves, etc). However, funds from this grant will allow us to add a circular "color wheel" garden. In this garden, the students will grow vegetables that are the colors in a color wheel. (For example, radish for red; carrots for orange; squash for yellow; lettuce for green; eggplant for blue; and turnips for purple).

At Akiva School, the 5th and 6th grade students have been learning about sustainability and the environment. The goal of our school garden is to build our own sustainable microcosm. By designing, researching, planning and maintaining the garden, the 5th/6th graders, and the rest of the student body will be immersed in creating something sustainable that gives back to the community. Each student is becoming an "expert" by researching either composting, lasagna gardening, invasive species, raising chickens, and which vegetables, herbs, and plants grow well in our region.

Having the right person with a passion, plan and experience, the land to make it happen, and a community of support make the perfect mix for a successful garden curriculum. Now students in all of our grades can experience firsthand how food is grown, harvested, and prepared into meals. Their hard work and patience with the growing process will develop a respect for and understanding of nature and farmers. Funding for this program via this grant will sustain and expand the efforts that have already begun.