Bridgestone Intermediate Center

The Western Heights Community Garden started in 2012 and has expanded to include diverse raised beds, an acre dedicated squash, corn, and melon production, and a half-acre mix fruit orchard. The goals for this program include improving school and family nutrition, increasing community connections between schools and families, and expanding student engagement through hands-on learning. Western Heights supports student involvement in school-based gardening programs because it provides opportunity to teach core subjects (aka math, science, reading) through kinesthetic learning, which is critical for intellectual growth. Stimulating learning activities also influence student attendance and behavior. With the funds received through this grant, we intend to build additional raised beds, purchase seeds and/or starter plants, landscaping materials (such as flags, markers, and mulch), and begin work on a hot house for plant germination in the winter.