Skip to main content
ioby logo

ioby has closed its doors. Read more here.

This project was eligible for matching funds through Grow to Learn Matching Grant

3rd Street Garden Reconstruction

We want to create an outdoor classroom for students, teachers and parents to work together to maintain and develop.

Leader

Simona Jansons

Location

121 East 3rd Street New York, NY 10009

About the project

After an extensive construction project, the STAR Academy is poised to take on the next phase of restoring our school by establishing a school garden. Our school once housed a beautiful garden where students and families were surrounded by nature.  However, during the construction, the school was unable to maintain these areas.  After four years, the construction has finally ended and the scaffolding has been removed showcasing a beautifully restored building.  Our goal, together with our building co-share The Neighberhood School, is to rebuild a green space that provides students (and their families) with opportunities to interact with their natural environment, reinforce classroom learning, and enhance activities that build upon our inclusive community spirit.

 

The Steps

Our school established a green team, which will work together with teachers, students and administration from both schools to develop the garden design.  Classroom teachers will work with students to develop recommendations regarding which vegetables, herbs, and flowers should be planted in the garden.  The green team and school staff will ensure that suggestions are incorporated from every grade level during the planting phase of the project.
 
Green team members will develop connections with groups like GrowNYC, Seeds for Life, and local nurseries to secure no-cost resources and to gain valuable knowledge and training regarding this effort.  In addition, the team will raise awareness by creating flyers and other promotional materials as well as  speaking with parents in classrooms and PTA meetings to recruit a cadre of volunteers for the project.  
 

Why we‘re doing it

We want to set up an outdoor classroom. Seating for academic instruction will also be created providing endless opportunities for integrating our curriculum areas.  These spaces will allow students to make observations and analyze their natural world but also serve to introduce topics such as nutrition and healthy food choices.   As the curriculum expands, we will explore and grow other plants and flowers in these areas.

Students will have the opportunity to develop gardening best practices by visiting local gardens and farms.  Younger students will have the opportunity to explore community gardens such as the Children’s Magical Garden or Governors Island Teaching Garden while older students will visit a farm such as the Queens County Farm.  These trips will serve to deepen their understanding about gardening, but most importantly, make connections to the larger world.

$2,703.00 / $2,603.00