"I love spring anywhere, but if I could choose I would always greet it in a garden.” ~ Ruth Stout
Spring is my favorite time of year because it's time to get dirty and dig in the garden. I also get to teach my students how to plant seeds, help them grow, and transplant them.
My students attend a charter school in an urban community with the kinds of troubles that should get a kid down, but not my students!
They come to school in the morning, greet me with a smile, ready to buckle down and get to work. In our classroom, we hold ourselves to a high standard and expect the same for anyone who visits. We are always there to lend a helping hand and love seeing each other succeed. Our school provides a safe environment for our students to become upstanding citizens and prepare for the future.
My Project
For the past four years, I have partnered with a park ranger from the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. Together, we teach the students about heirloom seeds, germination times, what plants are suitable for our area, and when the plants will flower and produce food.
In previous years, our annual camping trip to the Indiana Dunes, Bailly's Homestead, and the Chellberg Farm coincided with the time to plant the fruits and vegetables we started indoors in the Chellberg garden. This year we camped in March, so it was a tad early for gardening. It was always a pleasure to watch the kids get into the dirt and transplant the plants they watered and cared for.
I don't want this year's students to miss out on the wonderful experience because of a lack of funding for transportation! After we plant, we will hike around the Dunes, have lunch, and enjoy our environment. I can't think of a better way to spend a day at the end of the school year.
When you donate to this project, you are helping kids get into nature!
You are helping them learn how to plant seeds, care for the plants as they grow, start a garden, and give them chance to try something new. Being able to grow and produce your own food is empowering! Let's empower children to garden!
Nearly all students from low‑income households
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
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