Holden Elementary School started an after school garden club two years ago and due to popular demand, they now offer 8-week sessions throughout the school year because they have so many students interested in joining!
In the fall, students work hard in the garden prepping the raised beds, planting, harvesting and seed saving. They also use some of their herbs and produce in their school cafeteria plus send some home with their students. During the summer, they donate some of their produce to their local CHEFS food pantry.
During the school year they run taste tests during lunch time and the students vote whether they like the food or not (and what they think the secret ingredient is from the garden!). The garden club also invites people from the community to come in to talk to the students about different ways to garden such as hydroponics.
The garden club also participates in the composting program at their school. They learned about worm composting and as a result of the cafeteria putting scraps in the worm compost each week, the students love seeing the worms and learning about what the worms have to offer for their garden in the form of compost tea!
To finance their garden club they do a few fundraisers throughout the year. The students’ clear favorite is helping prepare for the Plant Sale in the spring which includes planting seeds for herbs, vegetables and flowers plus making ceramic bee bowls, garden labels and gnome aloe plants. Another fundraiser they have used is Seed Money Garden Grants which helped them raise money towards a greenhouse for next year! They envision their greenhouse will be a great space for classes to go out and learn as well as grow their plants.
Want to know more?!
- Kelly Davis at Kdavis@rsu63.org
- Holden Garden Garden Directory Listing
- CHEFS program helps reduce food insecurity in Maine
- Seed Money Garden Grants and Crowdfunding for Food Gardens
