Springwater Environmental Sciences School is a public charter school for grades K-8, within the Oregon City School District. Springwater provides approximately 200 students with the opportunity to learn through the sciences, building upon their natural love of learning, in a supportive community.
It was always a dream of the school to have a garden on campus as the heart of the school community. Three years ago, an AmeriCorps member was recruited and the garden has been slowly growing and flourishing ever since. Through an aggressive fundraising process we have been able to provide our AmeriCorps member with full time employment as School Garden Coordinator.
One of the biggest lessons Springwater has learned through this project is to start small, focus on each season at hand, and set practical yields for the students and staff. We started out with three-four garden classes a week with no garden space to grow in. With great success, we have built the program up to ten garden classes a week and an 8,000 sq. ft. garden space.
It was always a dream of the school to have a garden on campus as the heart of the school community. Three years ago, an AmeriCorps member was recruited and the garden has been slowly growing and flourishing ever since. Through an aggressive fundraising process we have been able to provide our AmeriCorps member with full time employment as School Garden Coordinator.
One of the biggest lessons Springwater has learned through this project is to start small, focus on each season at hand, and set practical yields for the students and staff. We started out with three-four garden classes a week with no garden space to grow in. With great success, we have built the program up to ten garden classes a week and an 8,000 sq. ft. garden space.
A Special Space
The garden is a unique and communal place. Because students know the three expectations, "Care for Self, Others, and Land," and follow the established behavior, they are allowed access to it all day long. There are no locks or heavy rules regarding access. The garden is a retreat for students who need a break during their studies, for those looking for adventure with their friends, or people who need a snack during the day. The culture of thoughtful, self-aware, and concerned citizens is vibrant in the garden.
Because of the special behavior expectations surrounding the garden, it is an immediate retreat for those students who are stressed, need personal space, or even privacy during a difficult moment. It is a space of wellness and health for the children. At the beginning of the school year, most of the kids who wander into the garden are new or young students who are seeking comfort and stability. They look for quiet space where they can gather their thoughts and slowly delve into the enthusiastic Springwater community.
The school garden also feeds families. There is no hot lunch program at the school, so we are limited in the extent to which food from the garden is integrated into the every day student experience. So, the community of Springwater families and staff are welcomed to take home produce for their meals. Students can bring in a friend or family member after school or during the summer and harvest the incredible bounty. As one student said, walking away with a grocery bags filled to the brim with tomatoes, potatoes, kale, and squash, “It’s like a free grocery store!”
Because of the special behavior expectations surrounding the garden, it is an immediate retreat for those students who are stressed, need personal space, or even privacy during a difficult moment. It is a space of wellness and health for the children. At the beginning of the school year, most of the kids who wander into the garden are new or young students who are seeking comfort and stability. They look for quiet space where they can gather their thoughts and slowly delve into the enthusiastic Springwater community.
The school garden also feeds families. There is no hot lunch program at the school, so we are limited in the extent to which food from the garden is integrated into the every day student experience. So, the community of Springwater families and staff are welcomed to take home produce for their meals. Students can bring in a friend or family member after school or during the summer and harvest the incredible bounty. As one student said, walking away with a grocery bags filled to the brim with tomatoes, potatoes, kale, and squash, “It’s like a free grocery store!”
Our Website
Please peruse the Springwater Garden website. Here you can see how our garden program has developed into larger spaces, how the permaculture food garden has become established, and what activities the students are getting up to each week in gardening class!