Growing Gardens- Together!

“What is your favorite part about the garden program here?” I asked one of the

second grade students. He immediately responded with “Being outside to pick

the vegetables and water the plants!” His classmates were also shouting their

own answers in the backgro

und to the tune of “Getting in the dirt!” “Watering the

gardens!” “Planting the flowers!”

This fall GroundWorks Connect was able to interview students at one of the

schools with our Garden Program. It was so rewarding to watch them know

which produce items to pick and which to leave to further ripen. They knew what

were weeds and what were plants in each bed, even though each of their 4

garden beds had a different theme.

The students had learned so much in just four short months since they had

helped to build and fill those garden beds with soil and compost and plants. They

were able to watch them grow over the summer in their summer care program

and nurture the plants.

However, the plants weren’t the only things that were nurtured, the students were

as well. One of the teachers reported that the garden beds taught so much more

than just nutrition of the plants but also responsibility, community, teamwork, and

most of all behavior regulation.

There are some students who need a little extra help and time to regulate their

emotions during and after high stress situations. Teachers said that if there were

any students having a particularly hard time regulating themselves, they would

take them out to the gardens and allow them to water the plants. The water

running down over the plants was soothing, putting their hands in the soil and

being able to pull weeds was calming, and picking produce to give to families of

their peers was joy-inducing.

Mental health is repeatedly a topic highlighted in news articles, workplaces,

schools, dinner tables- everywhere. Being able to share this healthy outlet for

teachers to utilize during school and with after school programs is such an

important tool for now and in the future. Each year more students are affected by

mental health crises. Our Garden Program supports so many people in schools,

hospitals, and communities.

The Garden Program here at GroundWorks Connect is so much more than “just”

a program. It brings connection for students to each other, to the earth, and to

themselves. What better opportunity to have than to be able to bring students

such a well-rounded education?

Continue watching our Garden Program grow by supporting our work here!