Sprouts in the garden
Green Acres Elementary
School students learn science through gardening
by
Debbie Bulger
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Third
graders harvest greens with teacher Claire Witherspoon. Photo:
Trish Hildinger
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Although some children
might think their food comes in plastic wrap from the supermarket,
students from appropriately-named Green Acres Elementary School
in the Live Oak School District know that food comes from planting
seeds and tilling the earth. These children do not wonder when apples
and walnuts are in season; they know. Green Acres students not only
grow lettuce, carrots, tomatoes, radishes, asparagus and other scrumptious
veggies, they harvest and eat the fruits of their labors.
During the fun process,
they learn science, nutrition and how to work together. Older children
spend 30 minutes/ week and kindergarten cultivators somewhat less
time participating in composting, planting, weeding, and the yummy
part-eating. Typical lessons might include examining bugs under
a magnifier, using nature as the subject for an art project, or
learning how worms eat garbage and make compost.
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Chloe,
Teddy and Brian participate in the Lunchtime Gardening Program.
Photo: Trish Hildinger
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Each class has its own
large garden bed on the multi-acre school gardening site. Nestled
on the ground are smaller boxed beds that one to three students
can share to grow whatever they want during the Lunchtime Gardening
Program. In addition apple, pear, citrus and walnut trees offer
their bounty.
The Green Acres gardening
program is run by Claire Witherspoon who teaches science through
gardening and Trish Hildinger, who works parttime with the school
and community to secure funding and volunteers. Starter plants and
seeds have been donated by Upstarts Organic Seedlings, The Garden
Company in Santa Cruz, and Bay West Nursery in Live Oak.
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Children
in Mrs. Turpen’s third grade wash salad greens in preparation
for eating. Photo: Trish Hildinger
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The garden is completely
organic and, combined with the school nature area, has won a Certificate
of Achievement from the National Wildlife Federation Schoolyard
Habitats. In 1978, Green Acres was the site of the original Life
Lab garden. This learning model was so successful that it spread
to over 1,200 schools in the United States and even in some foreign
countries. The Life Lab program is now a separate non-profit which
provides no funding or support to individual schools.
The Green Acres Science
Garden program is funded partly by the Live Oak School District
and partly by grants and donations. To learn more or to donate time
or materials, contact Trish Hildinger, 475-0111 x 235.
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