Hello Kelsey, can you tell us a little about yourself and your role at Big Green? My role at Big Green is the garden educator for Metro Denver schools. In this role I work closely with each school to help them achieve the vision they have for their specific Learning Garden, ranging from different aspects such as impact, outcomes, community engagement or integration with the curriculum (often all of the above! ). I have a background in education and a passion for nutrition through real food, so the role of Garden Educator was a great fit for me.
Big Green is known for introducing Learning Gardens to schools. What impact are you looking for from the students and teachers who participate in the program? The high-level impact I see most is the way real food in the Learning Gardens is effective in changing school food culture. When students grow an edible garden, they can approach fruits and vegetables with a sense of curiosity and empowerment that is often the foundation of a healthy lifestyle. The Learning Gardens are designed as outdoor classrooms, giving teachers more opportunities to take their lessons outside. Big Green offers a full curriculum and additional standards-aligned lessons to make the most of these opportunities, as well as hands-on support from myself. We are continually learning from our teacher and administration network about the impact of Big Green programming, but we continually hear that students are spending more time outdoors, that their attitudes toward fruits and vegetables are increasing dramatically, and that teachers are eager to take advantage of the dynamic space, whether it is a science, math, reading or writing lesson. One of my favorite impacts that I often hear about is how the Learning Garden is used for students’ social-emotional health. They are spaces in which students can calm down, slow down and catch their breath. At several schools, the garden is used for restorative justice practices and is seen as a safe space for many people – not just students.
What skills do Learning Gardens teach students? Learning Gardens teach students some of the most important life lessons that gardens can teach: patience (while growing) and dedication (watering every day, observing growth, etc.). Through a more specific lens, the Learning Gardens teach students how food is grown. Every fall we see students’ eyes light up when they pull a carrot from the garden. Not only did they learn that carrots grow underground, but that they also come in a variety of colors (same goes for potatoes, radishes, beets, etc.). They also continually test their own hypotheses with the stages of plant growth and the current state(s) of the garden. The Learning Gardens also cultivate a space where students collaborate and learn from each other. It’s a lot of space and work!
Do you see changes in community attitudes and values after the introduction of Learning Gardens? Absolute. The attitude change we most often see is based on education; people just aren’t aware of how easy it is to grow your own food. Parents and community members are important parts of our Garden Teams, and after a growing season at Big Green, adults are much more likely to a) start their own garden at home and b) help build resilience around the Learning Garden. The wonder and excitement students have as they grow, harvest, and eat their own produce is 100% contagious, and it extends far beyond the classroom.
You also have the Plant A Seed A Day program. Can you tell us something about that? Plant A Seed Day is a global campaign to encourage students, teachers, families and individuals to take one simple action: plant a seed. Planting a seed is planting hope, making an investment in the future and showing children that growing healthy, real food is a powerful act. We established this in 2019 and it is celebrated on the first day of spring, March 19, 2020. More information can be found at Plant a seed day!
WishGarden Herbs is raising money to create a special Herbal Wellness section of Big Green’s Learning Garden at GALS School in Denver. What do you think this will add to the Learning Garden program and do you often work with companies to develop Learning Gardens? The Herbal Wellness portion of the GALS Learning Garden is an exciting new programmatic piece for us. It brings the realm of holistic wellness to the Learning Garden that we have not seen before in this capacity. Although we use herbs in all our Learning Gardens, this is generally with the intention of being edible first and holistic second. The WishGarden/Big Green collaboration will turn that on its head and allow students to explore at the forefront the cultivation of herbal remedies, and how they can positively impact their community with said herbs and knowledge. GALS High School launched their garden last spring and is committed to impacting and improving the community. I can’t wait to see what they do and learn how we can integrate this into more of our middle school programming!
Where do you see the Learning Gardens program in ten years? I think we will disrupt the food culture in schools nationally (hopefully before 10 years!). Currently, most schools use their products in their cafeterias, which seems like a simple process, but depending on the school, there can be a lot of red tape and impractical procedures. We work with schools at the individual level to go through certifications so their products can be served in the cafeteria, and also at the district level to be part of the larger conversations about school lunches. I can’t imagine where we will be in ten years with those conversations. It’s exciting!
Finally, as we enter the winter season, do you have any advice for all the gardeners out there? Yes, plant your garlic, spinach and cilantro! We plant these crops in the Learning Gardens in late fall through winter, and they generally do very well. It’s always a big boost for the spring garden and the easiest growing season because it requires very little water. If you’re ever wondering what to plant and when in Colorado, check out our Colorado Resources page!
If you would like to donate to the Herbal Wellness Learning Garden For Kids, please click here.
For educational purposes only. This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease, or to sell any product.
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