Growing Minds and Produce in our Elementary School Gardens
With sunny skies and warmer temperatures outside it’s time to fully welcome spring. For those of us itching to get out in the garden, you might be able to get some pointers from some of our elementary students who spend time plowing, planting and picking produce each week with the help of teachers and parent volunteers. Many of our schools across the district have abundant garden programs for students to integrate their classroom learning with a hands-on garden curriculum.
We connected with three of our elementary schools to find out more about what’s growing in their gardens. If you are interested in visiting or supporting our gardens, please contact the individuals below or any of our many schools that have active garden programs. NVUSD is proud of our schools and students who are learning firsthand about farm to table!
Vichy Elementary School
How large is your garden - or how many beds?
14 - 10'x4' raised beds
Who primarily takes care of the garden?
Chris Hattich is our garden teacher and he tends the garden year round, even when we don't have students!
How often do students work in the garden?
Students in Kindergarten through 3rd grade work in the garden twice per month. Each class is split in half so that all students get to participate equally. There is a schedule so teachers can prepare.
What are you currently growing in your garden or getting ready to grow?
Winter/Spring- kale, broccoli, cauliflower, peas, potatoes, garlic, onions, lettuce, radishes, carrots
Summer/Fall- tomatoes, peppers, melons, watermelon, pumpkins, cucumbers, gourds, zucchini
Year round- table grapes, raspberries, apples
Is any classroom learning incorporated into the garden activities?
One of our 2nd grade classes has been studying bees. K's recently started sunflowers for classroom observation as part of their living/non-living unit. Many of our classrooms are studying plant life cycles, etc. We try to incorporate science instruction with garden activities when we can.
What do you do with the food that is grown in the garden?
Students consume the majority of what is grown in the garden. When there is enough produce to do so, students hold a Campus Farmer's Market during dismissal.
What do students tell you they like about their time in the garden?
Getting their hands dirty and eating!
Pueblo Vista Elementary
How large is your garden - or how many beds?
PV has a spacious garden. We have 8 4x10 beds, a fountain, numerous fruit trees and space for activity/exploration centers such as a lizard castle, a cocina, a digging box and a planting station. We also have a special Pollinator garden space to support our study of Pollinators.
Who primarily takes care of the garden?
Student groups, teachers and parents collectively care for the garden. We have received generous support from Lou Penning Landscapes as well.
How often do students work in the garden?
PV students visit the garden on a regular basis. TK visits 3x a week, K-2 1x week and the upper grades 2x a month or so depending on their units of study. Classes sign up for garden usage on our school garden calendar.
What are you currently growing in your garden or getting ready to grow?
We are always growing plants that invite pollinators, such as Salvia, Calendula, Herbs, Sunflowers etc. We are currently growing a number of vegetables: Broccoli, Kale, Lettuce, Favas, Carrots and Radishes (Roots, Stems and Leaves) these support our Plant and Plant Parts Unit learning. This month we will be planting our Salsa Garden. The produce will be used to make salsa during our Harvest Festival in the Fall. We also grow Lavender, Calendula and Sage which students use to make hand salves and sage bundles to sell to raise money for our garden. We have also started a succulent garden. We propagate the succulent plants and sell the cuttings to raise money for the garden.
Is any classroom learning incorporated into the garden activities?
As an Environmental Science Magnet school, our school garden was created to support the Environmental Science units produced by each grade level. Our garden is a learning lab. Each science unit is linked to meaningful time in the garden space.
What do you do with the food that is grown in the garden?
We talk about the parts of the plant, the needs of the plant and then we eat it! We have made soups, salads, salsa and smoothies with the produce from our garden. Often items are plucked from the ground, rinsed and sampled on the spot.
What do students tell you they like about their time in the garden?
Research proves that being outdoors is beneficial to our emotional health and well being. One just needs to witness the joy on the faces of all those who are engaged in the school garden experience to understand that school gardens are valuable places to learn about science and to enjoy the outdoors. Children love the fresh air, the freedom of movement and the chance to put their knowledge of environmental science into action.
Phillips Elementary
How large is your garden - or how many beds?
We have 7 raised beds and another 7 lower beds, not raised.
Who primarily takes care of the garden?
I do as the lead teacher for the garden club (after school).
How often do students work in the garden?
The club members work in the garden 2 days a week, the schedule is after school, 2:30-4:00. The classrooms may come to the garden anytime in the school day, it is open to all grades. Second grade uses the garden for two science units at the beginning of the school year, three classes visit multiple times per month.
What are you currently growing in your garden or getting ready to grow?
Harvesting and/or ending the season for our winter crops: onions, peas, cauliflower, broccoli, lettuce, chard, beets, and brussel sprouts
Planted for spring so far: chiles, cucumbers, squash, gourds, beans, chyote, tomatoes, carrots, and tomatillos
Fruit trees bearing fruit: fig, apple, pear, and berries (strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries)
Is any classroom learning incorporated into the garden activities?
Second grade seed dispersal unit, pollination unit, and ecosystem units in science.
What do you do with the food that is grown in the garden?
Teach culinary skills: soup, salsa, salads, butternut ravioli, spring rolls, and more.
Classroom harvests to eat: radish, carrots, peas, berries.
Farmers Market in fall: Garden club members harvest, price, weigh (some), and sell the garden produce after school to parents.
What do students tell you they like about their time in the garden?
Comments I hear frequently from students:
“So many bugs. Lots of colors. Yummy strawberries. Look at the lizard. Look at the bluebirds flying into the birdhouse, I love eating the peas. Is that broccoli? The bees are pollinating. Look at the caterpillars. Can we hold the worms? It is so peaceful. Can we explore?"
