PS 20 Green Arts is an interdisciplinary hands-on educational approach that broadens student’s thinking and problem-solving abilities thanks to Art and Gardening. The Arts and Gardening instructors work closely with the class room teachers to ensure that what the children do outside in the garden and in the art studio informs and complements the work that is done in the classroom. While the kids are digging in the dirt and expressing themselves in the art studio they are also building on what they have learned in social studies, science, and other core subjects. Green Arts is also a great way to build student’s awareness about sustainability, what they can do to protect the Earth and how art and science mingle.

Thanks to the ongoing support of the PTA and local partners, the 400+ kids of PS 20 can now dig in the dirt, plant seeds they helped save in the fall, and then sample the fruits of their labors in the form of herbs, mixed greens, pea shoots, tomatoes, and much more. Students experience this outdoors, in spaces that are open to the community, providing the opportunity for environmental education and urban farming to jump the fence into the wider community.

We need your support to sustain and expand our Green Arts program.

Bees: thanks to your support last year and to our local partner, City Growers, we set up a beehive on the rooftop. The beehive is going really well and we should have honey to collect next year (it takes two years before the first harvest). That said, we need to add more beehives to make our bees stronger, as well as pursue the training of our 2 in-house beekeepers. 

Gardens: we will have additional space to plant this spring. We need to build more garden beds,get new plants and seeds, but also mulch and grass to make it look stunning!

Tree pit enhancements: we have beautiful trees next to our school. We have very skilled dads, who would love to help enhance them with tailored benches and planters.

Instructor: this is the biggest cost of our Green Arts program. With your support, we will be able to fund gardening and arts classes for every child in our school.