Students noticed that a "Little Free Pantry" at their school was constantly empty, leading them to formulate a plan to build a community garden to grow food for their community. With the help of their STEM teacher, grants were written and enough funds were received to build 6 raised bed boxes for each grade from kindergarten to fifth grade by spring 2023.
After months of planning and fundraising, the school built a raised bed garden with the help of families and community members attending a “Garden Party” the students got their hands dirty. Each class selected seeds and planted a row, and students took turns caring for the garden. The first crops were spinach and radishes.
The school's community garden produced over 70 pounds of summer crops, including tomatoes, cucumbers, beans, peppers, and squash. Students rotated working outside to learn valuable agricultural skills and maintain the garden, which was tended by those attending summer school and camps. The fresh produce was shared with the community through the school's "Little Free Pantry."
