Greenfield Garden Project

One raised bed for every grade level with K growing companion plants. Math, Science, Social studies and Music are utilized.

To teach children the joy of gardening and to emphasize the nutritional value of fresh local produce.

Fresh produce can be a reality in every home whether in a garden plot or in a container. Gardening basics are easily learned and stay with you forever. 'Teach a child to garden....' is a truism that can alter eating habits for life as well as have an inpact on the environment and local economy.

A local potato farmer offered seed potatoes to any school willing to plant them. I approached my principal and he had 2 raised beds built. One bed held the potatoes. The 4th grade math class calculated the square footage and the distance between rows. When they returned to school in the fall they dug the potatoes. I roasted them the next day and served them to the 5th grade. The 3rd grade math students calculated the space for a lettuce bed as well as room for some herbs. We picked lettuce and incorporated it into our tossed salad for the student body. The herbs were harvested and used in the kitchen for salads and entres. This year the Greenfield Business Assoc. built 3 more raised beds so we now have one bed for each grade level. Kindergarten plants companion flowers (marigolds and nasturtiums) to keep the bugs away. The 1st grade started herbs from seed in their classroom. They learned "The Garden Song" and sang that the day they planted them in the bed. The 2nd grade planted radishes and sugar snap peas. We harvested and ate them right outside. The balance was cleaned and served to the student body as a fresh veggie choice. The 3rd grade planted a variety of lettuce and it's used on a daily basis in our student chef salads. 4th grade planted potatoes and will harvest them in the fall and 5th grade planted garlic in the fall and we are waiting to harvest. Its a growing project and we're still refining the details but it's very well accepted by the faculty and students.