Sowing the seed!

Sowing the seed

A garden is an ideal place for a holistic, environmental education. By planting their seedlings in a garden, they learn about lifecycles. From worms that help make our soil to the sun and rain that help our seeds grow. They learn about photosynthesis.  Food grown in the gardens can be brought to the classroom for nutrition and food preparation classes.

Environmental education should address our alienation from food and nature and provide opportunities to learn and grow. Gardens give us this direct opportunity to partake of the lifecycle. Food grown in the garden gives us a direct connection to our food source. Food grown in faraway places that is brought to us shrink-wrapped in the grocery stores is a direct barrier to our food sources.

Gardening provides a feeling of accomplishment and achievement to students. Reaping the handiwork of a garden brings us into direct contact with the earth. There is a sense of amazement in watching a seed appear above the ground in the spring and seeing it grow into a plant. Speculating on the size of the vegetable it might produce and being excited at harvest time to see what is produced. Watching a child at harvest time can give any adult a feeling a wonder as they taste that first pea of the season or seeing a child with a red face from eating fresh berries. 
Gardening in schools can reach so many children from all walks of life. There is so much a child can learn in the garden. Their sense of awe in harvesting their own food becomes evident as they show off their vegetables  to their friends and parents. The notion of Pay it Forward can become evident as a family begins to eat more healthily and others begin to share in the ideas and practice of gardening.