Cherryfield Elementary

Program Type: 
Garden Classrooms
Grade Level/Age Group: 
Middle School, Upper Elementary
Number of Individuals Program Serves: 
500
Year Founded: 
2015
About the Program: 

Cherryfield Elementary seeks to increase the size of our school garden, incorporate season extending modifications and begin vermicomposting to increase fresh food production for our school lunch program and increase educational opportunities for our students. We will expand our school garden from three, 4x8' raised beds to nine so that each class K-8 is able to plant, maintain, harvest, and plan curriculum around their individual beds. We will construct low tunnel hoop houses over all beds to extend our growing season by approximately four months, increasing school year participation opportunities and allowing us to incorporate cool season crops for use in the cafeteria. We will also begin vermicomposting with our fifth-eighth grade students, add seed starting kits for all classrooms, and purchase "The Growing Classroom – Garden and Nutrition Activity Guide" by LifeLabs to complement and expand our curriculum offerings.