We want to get our hands dirty and grow something healthy and delicious for our school and community!
Leader
Rosheen Hunter
Location
28400 S. Harwich Farmington Hills, MI 48334
I am a 5th grade teacher at a wonderful school in a suburb just outside of Detroit! This is my 22nd year in teaching and I love our diverse population and amazing students. Nearly 44% of our population receives free and reduced lunch and many of our students live in apartment complexes are a limited in their ability to take advantage of the wonderful benefits of gardening.
This spring we'd like to begin a fruit and vegetable garden on school grounds. Gardening at school has been shown to increase self- esteem, help students develop a sense of ownership and responsibility,
teamwork and social skills. Our students will also gain self-confidence and a sense of “capableness” along with new skills and knowledge in food growing — soon-to-be-vital for the 21st century. This is something our school can truly benefit from!
Gardening is a great way to teach ecological literacy and respect for the Earth, along with important food production skills, Teachers will be able to align this program with teaching standards across the curriculum.
Students, families and staff will take responsibility over the summer to water, prune and enjoy some of the benefits!
During the harvest in the fall, we'd love the students to be able to donate some of the supply to the local food bank in addition to teaching other classmates about the different crops and their nutritional benefits!
We are ready to get our hands dirty and grow something both healthy and delicious, and teach our students what might end up being the most important thing they ever learn!
1. Team of teachers and parents have met to plan this project out.
2. Currenlty writing and searching for grants for funding.
3. Breaking ground in middle of May with mulch, fencing and raised wooden garden boxes - Community effort!
4. In the meantime students will be starting plants in the classoom with the help of our local high school. We will then transfer these plants to the new garden when it's ready!
So many of our students and their families have limited knowledge of healthy foods and healthy eating. I strongly believe that this will trruly benefit our school and surrounding community when the students have access to healthy food!
So many of our students are considered "at- risk" and giving them this opporiutnity to work together on a project that brings about good for others will most definately have an impact on them as well as on the community!