With the arrival of AmeriCorps member Kaci Rae Christopher and a new greenhouse, Springwater’s garden program is ready to bloom. As the new garden coordinator, Kaci Rae has begun to work with staff and students to both expand the school’s garden space and weave associated topics like sustainable agriculture into the school’s integrated environmental science curricula.
Kaci Rae is collaborating with first grade teacher Mr. Jon to develop new curriculum associated with the garden, as well as tying garden work into existing school lessons. “Every teacher has committed to working in the garden this year,” explains Mr. Jon. “As a staff we created a tiered system of responsibility that allows every grade level to help make the garden work as a system that will be sustainable.”
Some tasks, like weeding and mulching and planting, will be done by all classes. Others will be grade-specific. Oak Leaves and Dragonflies will be studying and trying to attract pollinators. The 2/3 classes will become soil experts, testing and managing the garden soil to make sure it is healthy and productive. Fourth-graders will be constructing worm bins to help compost food waste from lunch. The 5/6 students will be studying compost and then redesigning and building compost bins to break down the lunch waste the worms can’t handle. They will also try to solve water management concerns and develop plans to collect rainwater for the garden. Springwater’s Foxes will be engineering different garden structures, such as vertical growing trellises. They will also develop a garden leadership program to help mentor younger students based on the gardening know-how they’ve accumulated over the years.
What’s happening in the garden right now? “This trimester is about working together in the garden space,” explains Kaci Rae. “We’ve been weeding, and next we start mulching. Everyone will start laying down cardboard, leaves…to break down into healthy soil over the winter. We’re also starting to focus on the greenhouse…making it a space where it can really get into production. “
Kaci Rae also has been nurturing new partnerships for Springwater. Food/Waves, a local non-profit organization (www.foodwaves.org), has donated lettuce, kale, and leeks to help students begin to grow their crops. Lori Bell, volunteer coordinator at Friends of Family Farmers (www.friendsoffamilyfarmers.org) and parent of a Springwater pre-schooler, has volunteered her time to work with Kaci Rae promoting the garden and making connections with local farmers. Plans are underway to develop a relationship with a sister school that may not have the knowledge or resources yet for their own garden program.
Kaci Rae’s vision for the Springwater garden is a bounty of food that can be shared among the Springwater community and others, a sustainable system based on permaculture and a place where lots of people gather – even in the summer. “Every bit of help is needed,“ Kaci Rae said. “When we start planting in the springtime, it will be great to see families working together. And the kids can be proud of getting things going and then involving the larger community. “
If you’re interested in helping support the new garden program, drop Kaci Rae a line at [email protected], or you can find her office in the Gridley Annex.
Article written by: Paul Heimowitz
Kaci Rae is collaborating with first grade teacher Mr. Jon to develop new curriculum associated with the garden, as well as tying garden work into existing school lessons. “Every teacher has committed to working in the garden this year,” explains Mr. Jon. “As a staff we created a tiered system of responsibility that allows every grade level to help make the garden work as a system that will be sustainable.”
Some tasks, like weeding and mulching and planting, will be done by all classes. Others will be grade-specific. Oak Leaves and Dragonflies will be studying and trying to attract pollinators. The 2/3 classes will become soil experts, testing and managing the garden soil to make sure it is healthy and productive. Fourth-graders will be constructing worm bins to help compost food waste from lunch. The 5/6 students will be studying compost and then redesigning and building compost bins to break down the lunch waste the worms can’t handle. They will also try to solve water management concerns and develop plans to collect rainwater for the garden. Springwater’s Foxes will be engineering different garden structures, such as vertical growing trellises. They will also develop a garden leadership program to help mentor younger students based on the gardening know-how they’ve accumulated over the years.
What’s happening in the garden right now? “This trimester is about working together in the garden space,” explains Kaci Rae. “We’ve been weeding, and next we start mulching. Everyone will start laying down cardboard, leaves…to break down into healthy soil over the winter. We’re also starting to focus on the greenhouse…making it a space where it can really get into production. “
Kaci Rae also has been nurturing new partnerships for Springwater. Food/Waves, a local non-profit organization (www.foodwaves.org), has donated lettuce, kale, and leeks to help students begin to grow their crops. Lori Bell, volunteer coordinator at Friends of Family Farmers (www.friendsoffamilyfarmers.org) and parent of a Springwater pre-schooler, has volunteered her time to work with Kaci Rae promoting the garden and making connections with local farmers. Plans are underway to develop a relationship with a sister school that may not have the knowledge or resources yet for their own garden program.
Kaci Rae’s vision for the Springwater garden is a bounty of food that can be shared among the Springwater community and others, a sustainable system based on permaculture and a place where lots of people gather – even in the summer. “Every bit of help is needed,“ Kaci Rae said. “When we start planting in the springtime, it will be great to see families working together. And the kids can be proud of getting things going and then involving the larger community. “
If you’re interested in helping support the new garden program, drop Kaci Rae a line at [email protected], or you can find her office in the Gridley Annex.
Article written by: Paul Heimowitz