Scarborough Middle School Garden

Category
Vegetable and herb Garden, Flowers and ornamentals

When was your garden project started?
The SMS Garden was established in 2023 to provide students in our special education programs with hands-on learning experiences centered around gardening. The program emphasizes the benefits of growing food, spending time outdoors, and developing practical life skills. Currently, the garden includes four raised beds and a larger in-ground plot for growing crops and flowers. Our goal is to expand the project to involve general education students, community members, and local organizations and businesses.

What type of facility hosts your garden?
Public School

What programs does your garden project include?
Currently, our garden initiative has been woven into support time with students (Social work, OT, PT). Our efforts have most recently focused on consultation with local partners (Scarborough Garden Club, Master Gardener Program- UMaine Cooperative Extension, Scarborough Public School gardens), and collaboration with local businesses (Ace Hardware, Coast of Maine Organics, Highland Farms). Our goal is to expand efforts to include more students, and incorporate garden themes throughout different locations/blocks throughout the school day including the following: Enrichment offerings (composting, propagation, seed starting, etc.), Wellness Day garden activities, Composting during lunch, Collaboration with in district elementary schools to support student mentorship and leadership skills development in the garden

Does your garden have a paid coordinator?
No

Who volunteers in your garden?
School staff and students have been the primary volunteers in our garden thus far. Our goal is to expand to include parent volunteers and community members.

How is your garden project funded?
Our garden has relied heavily on donations from local businesses, and a grant awarded by the SEF.

What community connections do you have?
We have established connections with the UMaine Cooperative Extension’s Master Gardener Volunteer program, the Scarborough Garden Club, and other district school garden programs.

Who tends the garden when school’s out?
At this point in time, school staff has tended to the garden when school is out.

What are your future goals?
Our future goals are to expand student programming to have a broader reach within our building, expand our community connections, and create a garden that promotes physical and mental well-being to our students.

What is your most significant need?
We would be interested in exploring grant funding opportunities, volunteer help, and garden activities and curriculum to use with students.