This is year two for our school's organic sanctuary, where 7th grade students volunteer to work. The students have learned how to maintain and cultivate this garden. The students teach their peers at our Environmental Festival and feed the teachers with the produce.
The students helping in the garden are in my gifted/advanced Life Science classes (involving 62 students).
These students teach other 7th graders (approximately 425) at our Environmental Festival how to garden. They provide tours of the garden and seeds for students to begin their own organic sanctuary at home.
Mr. Winfrey enhances our students' education with his expertise as a Master Gardener, permaculturist, and environmentalist. This has become a wonderful partnership and learning opportunity for our students. Most of our students live in the city and are learning how to sustain themselves for healthy living now and in the future.
My Project
With Mr. Winfrey's guidance (and myself), students will learn what crops to plant and how to maintain the garden. Mr. Winfrey will provide the non-genetically modified plants for students to cultivate. Students will collect their own seeds for distribution to their peers at our Environmental Festival and teach them how to start their own organic sanctuary.
The produce is collected by the students and given to the teachers. This past year students raised Seminole pumpkins, cushaw pumpkins, kale, radishes, pigeon peas, Greek peppers, watermelon, lettuces, spinach, baby lima beans, and herbs. The principal even made 3 pumpkin pies from one pumpkin. She brought one to our garden for the students to eat and enjoy. Another teacher wants to start a recipe book from using our produce. So many individuals can learn from such a tiny seed being planted.
This project will guide students in learning to volunteer their time to help others.
Students will hopefully become more mindful of the food they eat and be more responsible for healthy eating and living.
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Mrs. Babyak and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.