North Florida School of Special Education

The goal of the Garden Project, Ready, Set, Grow! is to provide a hands-on learning opportunity for our students with mild to moderate intellectual disabilities, ranging from 6 to 13 years of age. The children will be involved in all aspects of the garden from soil preparation, planting of seeds and veggie starts, watering and the ongoing care as the plants mature. Our students will learn the importance of healthy eating by using the produce grown in the garden to create meals at school that will include salads made with a variety of lettuces, baked breads and muffins using the herbs, along with fruits and vegetables as healthy alternatives to traditional snack foods. The students will grow flowers which will be used in art projects, as well as growing edible flowers such as pansies for use in recipes. Educational opportunities will include science (sunlight, water, plants, nutrients and soil); math (counting seeds, measurements and spatial planning); art instruction (easels will be set on which students may draw and paint within the garden setting; use of nature's colors; instruction on drying flowers, etc.). The garden grant will allow us to expand our instruction into an outdoor setting while providing an interesting way for our younger students to learn while having fun. The project provides our teachers with a valuable resource for teaching students with special needs in a creative, informative and educational manner. Raised beds will be placed adjacent to a row boat where students will plant a variety of herbs, strawberries, and flowers. Students will artistically decorate the boat in a playful, festive and happy fashion so to appeal to our young gardeners. Raised beds perpendicular from the row boat will allow for students who are wheelchair restricted, to access the beds easily so to participate with their classmates. An additional outcome will be educating students on the importance of healthy eating for a healthier life, as it is proven that children with disabilities have a much greater risk of obesity. With a grant from the Whole Kids Foundation students will experience the joy of seeing a plot of ground become a thriving garden created with their own hands!

This program is supported by .