1st Place
March Elementary School
Easton, PA

March Elementary School began a gardening program this year to help students, teachers, and the community make the connection between fertile soil, nutritious food, and good health.

This fall, the third grade students began in the classroom by learning about soil: its components, texture, and fertility; the importance of organic matter, cover crops, and compost; and the effects of organic versus inorganic fertilizers on the soil food web. Outside, they separated the soil into sand, silt, clay, and organic matter, and conducted soil tests to check NPK levels and pH. They then prepared garden beds in two different areas of the school yard by layering newspaper, shredded paper, compost, leaves, grass, coffee grounds, and egg shells (which the students collected and brought in) on top of the weedy, compacted soil. Finally, they put down a two-inch layer of organic topsoil and planted New Zealand white clover, hairy vetch, and winter rye as winter ground covers.

During the winter months, the third graders designed a butterfly garden and a fall harvest vegetable garden. Both the first and third grade students learned about seeds and the life cycle of plants, and grew seedlings (vegetables and annual flowers) for the gardens and for a plant sale. The kindergarten and third grade students learned about the life cycle and habitat of butterflies and raised Painted Lady butterflies in their classrooms.

In the spring, the cover crops were dug in, the gardens were planted, and the butterflies were released. Students and families signed up to maintain the gardens over the summer months. Come fall, the new fourth graders will add bulbs to their butterfly garden while the third graders will begin creating a new beneficial bugs perennial garden. The school will also have a harvest party to enjoy the bounty of the gardens: oven-baked potato chips, veggies (carrots, green onions, peppers, tomatoes, and cucumbers) and dip, watermelon, cantaloupe, sunflower seeds, and popcorn. Fresh food will also be taken to the local soup kitchen.

The school began vermicomposting this year. Every Wednesday was Worm Feeding Day, and the students brought in food scraps, which were chopped up and fed to the worms. The worm casting were added to the soil when the gardens were planted in spring.

The entire school also learned about whole foods and the food pyramid, each student creating his or her own salad plate including items from all the different food groups, many of which they were trying for the first time.

Additionally, there is an "Art in the Garden" program. This spring, each third grader made a decorative stepping stone for the garden. Plans are also in place to begin a large mosaic for the school playground wall this fall, depicting life cycles in the garden.

We have begun what we think is a very successful gardening program. The school, the community, and especially the children are all very excited about their new gardens. As third grader Christopher P. said while looking at the gardens, "I'm probably the luckiest kid alive!"