School Garden Initiative
The Lafayette Parish Master Gardener Association, in conjunction with the Lafayette 4-H Program, established a school garden initiative during the 2009-2010 school year in an effort to engage youth while improving academics, life skill development and health. There are a limited number of resources that provide the horticulture-based knowledge one needs to create a school garden, especially information that is easily accessible and user friendly to educators without horticulture backgrounds. Gardens are incorporated as part of the school curriculum as an outdoor laboratory and complement a wide range of subjects including science, math, English, history, language arts, physical education. Click here for more information.
The objectives of the program are to:
Through the school year, students participate in the entire development of the garden, in addition to community service. They participate in the decision-making process as it relates to basic gardening though preparing the soil, choosing crops, planting seeds, weeding and harvesting. The harvest is used for healthy food demonstrations and sent home to participant families. Students learn lessons on improving nutritional choices and exercise.
Each participating school has an advisory group comprised of six to eight class/grade level representatives, teachers and master gardeners. Monthly meetings allow students to share their experiences with their adult mentors. The master gardeners play a significant role by providing a positive relationship with a caring, competent and committed adult.
The objectives of the program are to:
- Augment and complement traditional classroom studies in Science, English and Mathematics through hands-on instruction of gardening and the plant life cycle.
- Teach the gardening basics of preparing soil, planting seeds, setting plants, caring for and harvesting plants.
- Cultivate a greater awareness for the environment within all participants.
- Foster students’ interest in gardening as an enjoyable hobby of a healthy lifestyle.
- Grow kid’s passion for learning, success and serving their community through a unique gardening education.
- Academic. Data indicates that when gardens are used to enhance the student’s academic leaning, they promote learning through social and recreational experiences.
- Health/Nutrition. Health and nutrition are some of the most important concerns in America due to increasing obesity rates. Research indicates that children make significant improvements in vegetable preferences when involved in gardening.
- Parental/Community Engagement. Adult involvement in the project is linked to improved grades and student attitudes regardless of the adult volunteer involved in the garden – parent, guardian, community leader or mentor.
- Teambuilding/Decision Making Skills. These skills help teach students the benefits of working together as a group to achieve a common goal andd lead to the development of critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
- Green Space The push for “green spaces” has been a recuring issue in the United States since World War I. This is extremely important especially in suburban and urban cities.
Through the school year, students participate in the entire development of the garden, in addition to community service. They participate in the decision-making process as it relates to basic gardening though preparing the soil, choosing crops, planting seeds, weeding and harvesting. The harvest is used for healthy food demonstrations and sent home to participant families. Students learn lessons on improving nutritional choices and exercise.
Each participating school has an advisory group comprised of six to eight class/grade level representatives, teachers and master gardeners. Monthly meetings allow students to share their experiences with their adult mentors. The master gardeners play a significant role by providing a positive relationship with a caring, competent and committed adult.