A growing offering of gardening activities presents students new outlets for their interests at Cutter Morning Star Elementary School.
Students in multiple grades tend to the school's garden areas during their recess times each week. Fourth-grade teacher Sarah Richardson has cultivated multiple ways in which students can be involved.
"I have been lucky because I think not all places would be so gung-ho about me dragging kids into the dirt a couple of times each week and to give up the amount of property it takes," Richardson said.
Richardson began the project last spring with her fourth-grade students who were enthusiastic about gardening. They sold fruit-themed items for a fundraiser.
Proceeds from the fundraiser allowed Richardson to plant pear trees and blueberry bushes. A parent connected her with James Shults, owner of Shults Greenhouse, who has provided an unexpected amount of support.
"I can't say enough amazing things about him because he sells us supplies at cost, drives to Little Rock to get the fruit trees we plant and he goes through a lot of effort to pick ones that already have fruit on them," Richardson said. "So the kids can see it instead of having to wait."
The proceeds were not enough to grow the garden project, so Richardson applied for grants during the summer. A $2,500 grant from Whole Foods Market and a $200 grant from Sam's Club to purchase new supplies.
Richardson said she has received support from other faculty and staff at the school and in the district. She said this year's fourth-grade class has been just as enthusiastic about working in the garden.
"It's fun to share my passion with the kids where I'm not just teaching at them," Richardson said. "We are having a dialogue, doing something we are interested in and talking about how they can do it. It's not about me bossing them. It's about us doing something together."
Fruit trees were planted along the front of the school. Additional plants were placed behind the building across the street from the elementary school. Viewfinders allow students to study the growing process.
"I like seeing them get excited about something where they can see some long-term payout," Richardson said. "So many kids these days see just right now. With the fruit trees, they may not see that fruit until they are in high school. It's fun to watch them do some long-range goal-setting. And it is fun to get in the dirt with them."
Richardson said she incorporates the garden into many aspects of the curriculum. Her classes study the science of the plants, mathematics behind the planning, seasons and they make predictions with the data they record.
"There's some science standards that require that you understand why an organism has certain structures, how those structures serve the plant and then how they work with the environment around them," Richardson said.
They planted some items in the fall and now determining what they want to plant this semester.
"Honestly, some of it's just been learning some patience," Richardson said. "It takes time and several things did not make it in our fall planting. They were just completely bummed out. I told them we get to try again in the spring."
Kindergartners planted spinach seeds and fifth-grade students have remained involved. Richardson said she would like to start a greenhouse on campus.
"I am hoping more and more high schoolers get involved for service credits, but I am just getting it off the ground myself," Richardson said. "I envision more people in K-12 being involved."
Richardson said Shults and her own parents have been key to the garden's success as she has spent many nights and weekends tending to the plants. She said she plans to obtain butterflies and ladybugs for every class to study.
Shults will provide the class with space in his own greenhouse next month to plant new items and study the process. Richardson said she hopes to hear back from more grant programs this semester.
Local on 01/23/2017