Petersburg School+Community Garden

Growing Healthy Children, From the Ground Up

In 2010 the Petersburg School District entered into a Participating Agreement with the Forest Service for 5 years to establish the School + Community garden to stimulate social interaction, encourage kids to learn where food comes from and to make healthy food choices, supplement and integrate growing food into the school curriculum and to improve the quality of life for Petersburg. Funds were provided as support for infrastructure, education, tools and supplies, and to create a Garden Sustainability Specialist position within the school district. Several educators and administrators from the school district and other interested community members and gardeners met in several work sessions to plan for and create a school and community garden to be constructed behind the elementary school. Once funding was secured, the final garden design was completed by local artist Susan Christensen.

In the spring of 2011, local contractors were hired to begin placement of a gravel pad, install water and electrical supply, and build a fence high enough to keep out unwanted animals. High school shop students built garden beds from locally milled yellow cedar and the elementary school planted carrots, radishes, potatoes, lettuce, and beans. In the fall of 2011 students had their first harvest of carrots and potatoes, and enjoyed leafy greens in their salad bar. Students brought vegetables from home to add to the potato filled Stone Soup.

School + Community Sustainable Garden’s mission is to connect both youth and elders to explore the mosaics of plants, people, cultural heritage, science and sustainable living in a collaborative effort as we act together to enhance the community of Petersburg. Our garden will foster excellent community involvement, provide nutritious produce for school lunches, encourage youth and adult interaction, increase kid's physical activity and awareness of the nutritional values of fresh fruits and vegetables, and where food comes from. The hoop house will become an educational growing center and outdoor classroom offering numerous opportunities for the schools, community and library to teach and educate, and to enhance the quality of life for many people in Petersburg.

During the school year kids will eat the harvested food in the school cafeteria, specifically in the salad bar. A part-time seasonal position for a Garden Sustainability Specialist has been created to maintain the garden and hoop house and work with school staff to develop curriculum connected to educational content standards. By linking content standards to garden curriculum, particularly the hoop house, as an outdoor classroom, sustainability will naturally follow. The sustainability specialist will also document all garden projects as well as act as a liaison between staff and garden committee, assist with grant writing and reporting, organize biannual community workdays, and make regular reports to the superintendent, principal, and garden committee. The 5 person appointed garden action committee will assist the specialist by helping to secure volunteers and organizations, such as the public library, Children's Center and PIA, for summer maintenance and educational classes, assist with grant writing, donations, fundraising, and organization and promotion of events.

The success of this project is dependent on ongoing parent enthusiasm and support, principal and teacher engagement, and a clear study organizational plan. This project will be successful as it is integrated into curriculum, supported by the community and school staff, and of course the contagious enthusiasm shown by students discovering and deepening their relationship with the natural world.