|
|
|
SVFC currently has seven raised beds at Steep Falls Elementary School for K-3rd graders growing international gardens; a Pizza Garden at the George E. Jack Elementary School in Standish for 4th & 5th graders and creating a greenhouse space at the Bonny Eagle Middle School in Standish. We train the teachers, we conduct some classes with the students, and teach about good nutrition. The goal is to have the school to use the produce in their cafeteria. The curriculum will be enhanced this year at the Steep Falls
School, with farm staff training teachers to be more Here are some students at the George E. Jack School learning about soil structure in our lesson on soil. They are also learning about soil testing as well, since their land was once an apple orchard and there is a possibility of lead in the soil. We were fortunate to have three volunteers help us teach these lessons.
The biggest project of the year is building the BEMS Greenhouse. It's a state-of-the-art solar greenhouse with 10 raised beds, two being high enough for wheelchair accessibility, three seedling benches, and many blue barrels to absorb heat & release it during the night. Students are visiting the greenhouse to weed, plant, transplant, and harvest crops for their school lunch program, focusing on salads this year. Along with the hands-on work, they have a lesson in all subject areas related to the greenhouse work. Rippling Waters gives a huge thank you to our Americorp/VISTA volunteers Phil & Sydney for their work on making this wonderful opportunity come to fruition! Building the Greenhouse however cost us more money than we had
budgeted, so we are in the midst of a fundraising campaign to ensure that the
project continues. Your help now will also help to other schools in the
state to acquire a greenhouse.
|
|
|
Rippling Waters Organic Farm
proactive about integrating the
project into their classroom lessons as part of their Maine state learning
results studies, perhaps asking students to investigate the origins of the
foods they eat, costs involved in having them transported here and how
much nutrition is lost from the time it is harvested until it reaches
their plate.
Later on in
the spring of 2008, students are breaking the ground for their new school
garden. This year their theme is "Pizza Garden". The learn
how to grow any kind of vegetable you can at on pizza and then have a pizza fest
in the fall.
