Caitlin Piccirillo-Stosser writes the second blog post of the series and discusses the importance of school gardens. Caitlin is a third year student from Ossining, NY, double majoring in Economics and Public Policy. Take a look! 

One of my favorite memories from elementary school is from fifth grade, when one of my teachers was in charge of maintaining the small garden in the school’s courtyard. Every Wednesday, a few of the kids in my class and I would be in charge of weeding and watering the plants, and we were even able to spend a few mornings in the spring planting new flowers. Our class also raised money for garden essentials by selling homemade greeting cards at the school. While I was lucky enough to be in the class that was most responsible for caring for the garden, there were also activities during school “enrichment days” that promoted school-wide interactions with nature, including building birdhouses and bird feeders.

Something like the presence of a school garden may not be thought of as having a strong impact on children, but there is much evidence that children’s positive experiences with school gardens can result in many long-term benefits. When students are introduced to gardens at school, they are boosting their connections to nature, which can be especially important in cities where green spaces are limited. Children are able to develop a deep appreciation for nature, which is particularly imperative in this day and age, as we continue to feel the effects of global climate change. In addition, in an educational environment, gardening projects can be tied to science, math, reading, environmental studies, and health, and students have the opportunity to learn through hands-on experiments. Studies have shown that elementary school students who participate in school gardening score higher on standardized science achievement tests [1]. It is possible that introducing children to gardens will spark interest in careers in science as well. There is also the bonus of acquiring other necessary skills such as responsibility and the ability to care for other living things.

School gardening also offers the chance for students to improve their health and wellness. Many young children are reluctant to try fruits and vegetables, but exposure to these healthy foods in school gardens can help encourage more positive attitudes [1]. There is also the additional benefit of being outside and exercising while learning new skills. In a way, school gardening can help combat the very prevalent issue of childhood obesity in the United States by promoting healthy diets and being active.

While the advantages of having school gardens seem obvious, and a growing number of schools across the country are implementing gardens, there are still numerous obstacles preventing gardens from being in every school nationwide [2]. Many schools lack the resources and the funding required to start a garden. One of the biggest problems faced by urban schools is simply a lack of space.

Luckily, organizations are sprouting up to help remove these barriers and work toward the widespread initiation of gardens in schools. Organizations such as the Collective School Garden Network (CSGN) have the mission of planting and sustaining a fruit and vegetable garden in every willing Arizona and California school [3]. They want to be able to emphasize the importance of good nutrition to children and provide them with the opportunity to eat food that they grow themselves. In Chicago, Gardeneers is the only organization in the city dedicated to providing full-service school garden support. The institution connects students to healthy food through experiential, garden-based learning by visiting schools each week to lead after-school programs that complement existing curricula. Students have the chance to grow their own plants and learn about science not from a textbook. The food that students grow is even incorporated into the school cafeteria menu so that the children can appreciate eating the food they grow [4]. Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! campaign, which promotes the improvement of children’s health, also encouraged school gardening since it stimulates healthy eating. The campaign website offers a checklist of steps for starting a school garden, as well as suggestions for designing projects and curricula surrounding gardening [5].

School gardens should serve as an integral component of children’s education, as the benefits that children receive as a result have already been clearly identified and demonstrated. I have no doubt that my experiences in fifth grade, getting my hands dirty in our school garden, helped stimulate my interests in health and environmental studies. Children should have the chance to learn about nature firsthand and have their own mini farm-to-table experiences.

References:

[1] “Benefits of School Gardening.” Tampa Bay School Gardening Network. University of South Florida. Accessed 19 February 2017. “Benefits of School Gardening.”

[2] Erbentraut, Joseph. “School Gardens Can Help Kids Learn Better and Eat Healthier. So Why Aren’t They Everywhere?” Huffington Post. 29 April 2015. “School Gardens Can Help Kids Learn Better And Eat Healthier. So Why Aren’t They Everywhere?”

[3] Collective School Garden Network. Western Growers Foundation. Accessed 19 February 2017. Collective School Garden Network.

[4] Gardeneers. Accessed 19 February 2017. Gardeneers.

[5] “Let’s Move School Garden Checklist.” Let’s Move. Obama White House Archives. Accessed 19 February 2017. Let’s Move School Garden Checklist.