Cowlishaw Elementary School

Our garden's number one goal is to educate students about how food is grown. Many of our children spend a lot of time indoors, and many of them were amazed that carrots and potatoes grow under the ground. They were astounded that worms lived in the dirt in our garden. Some of the students eat few fruits and vegetables, and yet when they've grown their own veggies, they are eager to taste and enjoy what they've grown. Our gardening students learn from one another and teach new members what they have learned. From a science standpoint, learning to garden teaches students about life cycles. From a cultural standpoint, I teach at a very diverse school, and bringing parent volunteers together with student gardeners and teachers can bridge cultural divides. I want students to have a say in which heirloom seed varieties we chose, and perhaps use some methods they may be acquainted with from their home countries.