We are getting started with our garden bed building and infographic materials. We currently have eleven 4'x4' raised beds, some will stay that size, others will be combined to create 4'x8' beds. We will begin planting in March and our students in class will be researching each plant and it's nutritional value to create infographic posters that will be posted near each raised bed. We will then be able to use the outdoor classroom to teach about how to put together raised beds, begin a garden of herbs or veggies, how to harvest and learn which vegetables are more nutritious than others and how to combine them to make a meal.
After harvesting, we will include the nutritional infographic and recipes in the bag of fresh herbs and vegetables so that our food insecure students can create delicious and healthy meals at home.
Action plan:
Timeline:
When will you be able to start your project? We should be able to begin purchasing materials mid/late March or early April.
How often will your team meet? The Thoreau MS Green Eagles after-school group will be every Monday & Thursday from 2:25-3:20pm with the possibility of some days working through the second session from 3:25-4:20pm.
Are there any key dates to share for the project? School ends on June 16th so we will have to have teacher/staff, student and parent volunteers to come in a minimum of once a week to tend and harvest the gardens until school begins in the fall.
Budget:
You don't need to share exact prices, but please share how you're planning to spend the seed funding & what costs you're anticipating to get your project up and running: We will need to purchase almost everything needed to start the project - raised garden beds, soil, tools (trowels, shovels, hose, nozzle, plant signs, etc), seeds or seedlings.
Impact:
How will your community benefit from this project? Not only will our Green Eagle members learn more about what it takes to create a garden, tend to it and how to harvest food, but it will also allow some of our Category B Special Education students with severe disabilities and Free/reduced Lunch/Low-Income students learn about the nutritional value of various types of vegetables, fruits and herbs. They will incorporate this through their health and science units by talking about nutrients, vitamins and minerals. These students will learn how to meal prep healthy dishes using their harvested veggies, fruits and herbs. It will also help our Cat B students learn life lessons for future work place opportunities. We will also be providing fresh, nutritious food to some of our food insecure families instead of just the non-perishable foods they currently take home on a weekly basis. It is a chance to show teamwork, build and grow communication and collaboration skills and to help others in need.
Do you have any measurable goals for your project, such as the number of people that will participate? We average 10-30 students per meeting day and will be adding up to 15 of our CAT B students to the mix, along with anywhere from 2-8 teachers/staff members and hopefully once established more students, staff and community members will want to help.
Are you hoping to spread knowledge or increase interest in a specific subject? Yes, We are also hoping that some of our Low-income students & parents join discussions on how fresh foods are more nutritional than pre-packaged and non-perishable food items. We'll provide nutritional values when we send home food with the students on a weekly basis. We will also use information in our Science 7 Honors and Advanced Academic classes and will be using the garden areas as an outdoor classroom (we have tables outside) to learn about life science topics such as groundwater, composting, photosynthesis, cellular respiration, pollination, nitrogen/water/carbon cycles and many other biology and environmental topics.
Location:
If your project requires physical space, have you decided the location? Yes, we have a courtyard that has three large green space areas. We have been approved by administration to use these areas specifically for growing fresh fruit, veggies and herbs.
Do you have all necessary permission and permits to carry out your project at the chosen location? Yes.
