Edible Garden Workshop Sat 1/24 9am-1pm, Please RSVP
An “Edible Garden” is an outdoor learning environment, where kids grow vegetables, herbs, and other foods on the school grounds. (See below for more about the cool things and ways kids can learn through gardening.) Right here at George Watts, we can have working gardens! One of the first steps is to explore some possibilities, so…
PARENTS, TEACHERS, AND STUDENTS,
you’re invited to a
DESIGN WORKSHOP
WHEN: Saturday, January 24, 9am-1pm
WHERE: Media Center (enter school through the door up the ramp, near Media Center)
WHY: To figure out how an edible schoolyard at George Watts could look. Local landscape designers, plus people from SEEDS, NC State School of Design, Bountiful Backyards will be there to help us brainstorm and sketch out some ideas.
FOOD: Coffee, juice, danishes!
WORKSHOP SCHEDULE, Sat 1/24:
9:00 am Welcome and overview
9:30 Brainstorming Exercise at tables
9:45 Group Discussion of Brainstorming Exercise
10:00 Start drawing!
11:15 Temperature Check
11:30 Draw some more
12:15 pm Pin up
12:30 Review each Team solution
12:50 Wrap up and next steps
1:00 Conclusion
A big thanks goes to Dan Jewell and other DAD (Durham Area Designers) members for leading this workshop!
RSVP: Please let us know if you’ll be there: call or email Alice Bumgarner, alice.b@earthlink.net, 919.680.8674
WHAT’S NEXT?:
We’ll be applying for grant money to execute the project, so if all goes well, we’ll be doing the garden installation next school year.
MORE ABOUT SCHOOL GARDENING:
School gardening is becoming increasingly popular around the country, as parents and educators recognize the importance of teaching kids about healthy food, as well as providing hands-on, sensory educational experiences – one of the strengths of Montessori education.
Alice Waters, chef at Chez Panisse restaurant in Berkeley, CA, pioneered the concept of an “edible schoolyard” at Martin Luther King Middle School in Berkeley in 1994. At this school, they even bring the food from their garden into their cafeteria for cooking and serving! The students are involved in all aspects of farming the garden, as well as in preparing, serving, and eating the food. Gardening is fully integrated with academic subjects. So the students are gaining practical gardening skills; being exposed to and perhaps even liking fresh, healthful food; and learning about math, science, and language. But on top of that, consider how gardening can help develop an appreciation for:
- beauty
- diversity
- craftsmanship
- tenderness
- responsibility
- tolerance
- commitment
- curiosity
- patience
- simplicity
- the pleasure of work
- interconnectedness
- hope
Check out The Edible Schoolyard’s photos and lesson plans.
And here’s a small sampling of links to more information about school gardening and local eating:
- Edible Schoolyard projects at elementary schools in Pittsburgh, PA
- ‘Edible Schoolyard and Slow Food curriculum to combat childhood obesity’ – article from Battle Creek Equirer
- School Garden Wizard
- Story about the Edible Schoolyard from AARP Magazine
- Story about school gardening from the New York Times
- Barbara Kingsolver’s Animal, Vegetable, Miracle
- Slow Food USA
This is one of the best local school PTA sites I have seen. I will be speaking for the CA PTA in May. Until then check our information focused on parent involvement and membership growth. Keep up the great work with the edible garden and EVERYTHING else:
The family is a critical component to any child’s life. When it comes to education, no greater statistic stands truer today than the achievement gap between students whose parents are involved in their education process and those who do not have that support. Personal responsibility, safety and education are key elements to bringing up the next generation.
After 10 years of experience leading a volunteer program in my children’s elementary and middle schools, I launched Schools And Families Engaged (the S.A.F.E. TEAM on Campus) in 2008 to meet the needs of schools and families. Many of the school’s families do not know where to begin in school. Many parents today never had an example of their parents supporting the school let alone they may not have enjoyed their personal schooling experience. Why would they have a desire to serve? You only know what you have experienced.
Make time to check out our site http://www.thesafeteam.com . On the About SAFE page, click on the 40 Developmental Assets link. This will tie in all the benefits of families and communities supporting their students both in school and out of school.