Appleton Roots

Category
Vegetable and herb Garden, Flowers and ornamentals

When was your garden project started?
2005

What type of facility hosts your garden?
School

What programs does your garden project include?
Experential Learning, Nature Study, Schoolyard Plantings/Greening Project, Cafeteria Connection, Therapeutic Horticulture to support Fine Motor Skills, Cognitive Development, Social Skills, Sensory Integration, and Social-Emotional Development; Community Engagement, Summer Program

Does your garden have a paid coordinator?
Yes

Who volunteers in your garden?
Staff, students, families

How is your garden project funded?
Budgeted School or Community Funds, Grants, Generous Donations

What community connections do you have?
Our families have provided with plants and local businesses have donated plants and supplies. We are hoping to expand our community connections in the near future.

Who tends the garden when school’s out?
Garden caretaker volunteers (unpaid staff) and summer program staff and students that use the garden as part of their hands-on learning.

What are your future goals?
We hope to raise funds for a greenhouse that will extend the growing season into colder months, giving students more opportunities to plant and learn. It will also provide an accessible space where students with disabilities can fully participate in gardening alongside their peers, making the garden a year-round, inclusive resource.We exploring the idea of community engagement by offering families small garden plots, providing seeds to ensure equitable access while encouraging them to grow their own produce in exchange for helping maintain the garden.

What is your most significant need?
Our most significant need is a small greenhouse/hoop house to extend the growing season and provide year-round, accessible learning opportunities. Additional needs include a rainwater collection system and seeds for family plots to support sustainability and community engagement.