Portland Elementary

Program Type: 
Garden Classrooms
Grade Level/Age Group: 
Lower Elementary, Upper Elementary
Number of Individuals Program Serves: 
500
Year Founded: 
2013
About the Program: 

The primary goal of our garden is to teach students how to grow, tend, and harvest their own food and to teach healthy eating and healthy decision making around food. The gardens are connected to science and social studies classes at our school. Students examine insects in the garden and compare them with insects in other parts of the outdoor classroom. Besides healthy eating and scientific knowledge, the theme gardens are connected to cultural studies in our social studies classes to teach students respect for and awareness of other cultures. There are themes for each raised bed - edible parts of plants, Irish Potato Soup garden, Italian Pizza garden, Mexican Salsa garden, 3 Sisters Native American Garden, and a Colonial Garden. Funds will allow us to provide soil, compost and plants and the upkeep of gardens.

This program is supported by Kentucky State University.