Marlinton Elementary Graduating Gardens

By establishing a school garden program it will not only benefit the students but the whole community. We hope students will gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of where food comes from how it's grown and a personal desire to be healthy through eating well and exercising. We hope this excitement and enthusiasm transfers to parents and together they will make positive changes by preparing meals with more wholesome ingredients cooking at home or starting a home garden.

In 2011 and 2012, Farm2School coordinator Adrienne Cedarleaf used existing flower beds to plant with classes and conduct small lessons within the classroom.  In 2013, Farm2School coordinator Liza Dobson used Whole Kids Foundation grant funding to construct four raised beds for the "Graduating Gardens" program.  During the spring of 2013, kindergarten, 1st grade, 2nd grade, and 3rd grade classes were able to plant their respective beds and in the fall, these same students will be able to harvest what they planted from the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grade beds.