Ripley Elementary School

Delve Into Gardening, DIG's, mission is to offer a garden environment in which to plant the seeds of knowledge, experience the joy of learning, and harvest a bountiful crop of lifelong learners. In December of 2012,we received approval for DIG. to add a school garden to enhance the curriculum for Ripley Elementary School's learners. Stakeholders agreed that learning to appreciate the wonder and power of nature is the core to environmental education by creatively engaging students in a manner that encourages them to learn more about agriculture. Funds were raised through grants and community support to complete the first phase of DIG that includes raised vegetable/herb beds and an arbor. Phase two is completed with a larger raised bed for vegetables, four fruit trees, compost bin/ rain barrel, an indoor worm bin, and classroom stove . We want D.I.G. to be environmentally friendly. Also, DIG's team compiled garden lessons across the curriculum to offer resources for RES's teachers.