School Gardens

School gardens have the potential to transform learning experiences for students in pre K through high school. The school garden is a teaching tool enabling teachers across the curriculum to engage students in math, science, art, languages and reading.

Learning how to grow to fresh food also reinforces nutrition, health and wellness guidelines. Why do kids start liking kale? The hands-on experience pays in nutrition dividends. That’s the kale they planted, observed growing, and nurtured. A sense of pride and ownership makes that vegetable suddenly more appealing.

School gardens also enhance social and emotional development. Opportunities for team building, cooperation, independence, work ethics and leadership are part of the school garden experience. Special needs students, as well as honors students, are rewarded in the act of growing of food. Whether the lessons take place on the windowsill of the classroom or outside in the school’s courtyard, the school garden makes learning enjoyable.

How to get started? How to bring your school garden activities to the next level? Consider the resources linked here: curriculum, grant and funding resources as well as local examples of school gardens in the Suffolk School Garden Network.

Farm Credit East Offers Scholarships to Support Agricultural Educators

Farm Credit East is pleased to continue its support of Northeast agricultural educators with scholarships to aid their attendance at institutes offered by the Curriculum for Agricultural Science Education (CASE). Scholarships will cover up to $1,250. The application deadline is Dec.13.

To be eligible for a Farm Credit East CASE scholarship, educators must teach in a school district within Farm Credit East’s eight state territory and must currently teach, or plan to teach, agriculture or natural resources courses. Scholarships will not exceed $1,250.

Click here to register and for more information.

---

Last updated November 4, 2024