Nothing compares to the lustrous smiles of children in a garden ! Curious about the outdoors , eager to explore , and excited to learn , children of all ages delight in hands - on experiences with ejaculate , colourful prime , refreshed garden truck , and the soil beneath their metrical unit . Beginning in 2021 , to further this enthusiasm , the Piedmont Master Gardeners established a partnership with three elementary schoolhouse in different sections of the county : Greer ( central ) , Crozet ( western ) and Stony Point ( northerly ) . These collaborative effort proceed today . In plus , PMG provides grant funding for other gardening labor that focus on youthfulness breeding . On an annual foundation , local school and nonprofit organizations are ask in to use for these grant to purchase tool , supply , seeds , and other equipment to plunk for on - site horticulture travail . This year , 23 projects in Albemarle County were funded . Plus , to corroborate school that put up compost education , PMG provide knowledgeable , experienced volunteers for on - web site assistance .
This article focuses on the particular elementary school partnerships . PMG involvement at each location is designed to address the distinct need of that school site and its student population , which leads to alone models of successful engagement . At each site , schoolyard gardening action have captured the hearts and thinker of students , staff , house , and volunteer . In the words of Steve Saunders , Principal at Greer ES , “ This project is nothing short of miraculous . It is outgo our savage expectations . ”
Greer Elementary School
The outdoor installation at Greer ES include a beautiful court with rain garden , flower beds to attract pollinator , eat areas , and a fully approachable receptive garden ( installed Spring 2024 ) , as well as a large fenced - in , upraise - layer garden with bench and teaching stations behind the schoolhouse building ( complete Spring 2022 ) .
A core team of master gardeners coordinates this initiative for student in grades K , 1 , and 3 , planning natural action that aim Virginia Standards of Learning ( SOLs ) in skill , social subject , mathematics , and literacy . child ’s literature selections are also ply for monthly lessons to reward conception present during those experiences in the garden .
On a monthly base with documentation from schoolyard spark advance teacher at Greer ( Emily Bell , Katie McLaughlin ) and following a regular agenda established with instructor in advance , PMG Tennessean come across with 15 different classes outside in the garden ( weather permitting ) . With teacher guidance , children from each class are divided into small radical , which facilitates meaningful communication and interaction with a wide variety of materials ( provided by PMG ) .
Lessons and activities center on plant parts and affair , seed / planting / germination , plant growth and biography cycle , pollinator , butterfly stroke emcee and nectar industrial plant , worms and compost , healthy soil , observation skills , measure , and harvesting and tasting fresh garden truck .
To aid prepare and maintain the garden areas at Greer , workdays are organized several sentence during the year . UVA ’s Alpha Phi Omega ( APO ) scholar service volunteers join master gardeners to pull skunk , spread mulch , and keep the prime bed in with child shape . Remarkable camaraderie and cheerful spirit demonstrate that horticulture is a delightful path to spend time together !
At the destruction of the pedantic yr , Assistant Principal Becca Irvine coordinates project with the Greer PTO , that enthusiastically supports this program , to sign up families who are willing to water and take care of the gardens during summer month . The bonus ? They get to harvest and consume any vegetables that are ready to eat ! PMG volunteers have create short , user - friendly picture ( translated into several languages ) to show class what to do in the garden to keep it healthy and happy in June , July , and August .
Greer staff members appreciate the children ’s rich photograph to outdoor education and PMG ’s support for VA SOLs . dealer Steve Saunders is impressed with “ the impact on the full schoolhouse . ” He has complimented PMG on being “ a committed pardner that remain well - connected with schooltime staff throughout the year . ” He adds , “ We continue to be thankful for you all and the many way you ’ve supported our school and students . ”
This spring , a visit from Albemarle County School Board Member Rebecca Berlin was a wonderful dainty for everyone . Dr. Berlin observed bodily function with kindergarteners in the courtyard . With her background signal in other childhood and especial education , she was happy to take part actively , joining students in a song about flower parts and functions .
express gratitude in a promissory note , one bookman say , “ I make out garden with you . I get laid everything you do . ”
Another student add together up her feeling : “ You are the honorable gardeners ever . Every sentence I go there , I learn something fresh . ”
Flashing a huge smile at a outflow meeting with PMG volunteers , Assistant Principal Becca Irvine add up her tactual sensation about Greer horticulture activity : “ Thank you all so much for everything you are doing to support this undertaking . We just hump it ! ”
Crozet Elementary School
Proudly labeled a “ green schooling , ” outdoor areas at Crozet Elementary include several attractive pollinator flower beds with a variety of native plantings . Second grade instructor Barbara Honeycutt , who provides a central leadership theatrical role for gardening at Crozet , is wildly enthusiastic about outdoor Department of Education . She and her grade - level colleague instill a actual love of nature amongst their second graders , and that monitory mannikin is contagious throughout the entire student universe .
During a recent refurbishment of the school construction , many existing planting at Crozet had to be move to accommodate the fresh construction . Crozet families and PMG volunteers assisted in those feat , dig out diligently to create new beds , tot compost , and marking spaces for more than 120 flowering plant . Later , a magic new baby ’s garden was create behind the building , where PMG volunteers aid children use a variety of tool to put in native planting .
The chief PMG project activity at Crozet takes home every April to commemorate Earth Day and the importance of lead care of our planet . This twelvemonth , PMG volunteers organized an outdoor day for second graders , and lessons focalise on the crucial relationship between pollinators and aboriginal works . Crozet students were captivated to add pollinator - friendly plant to ornament their own children ’s garden seam . They love learning about pollinators , get the picture in the dirt , planting , watering , and spreading mulch around nearby tree while explore special items , such as ophidian skins and birds ’ nest , in the fresh installed “ Discovery Boxes ” around the bed .
Teacher Barbara Huneycutt expressed her gratitude : “ give thanks you so much for come out on Earth Day to help second grader tally unexampled plants in the children ’s garden . scholar were so majestic of their efforts and have since go out day by day to check on “ their plants . ” My co-worker commented on how well PMG Volunteer interacted with students . “ It was such a huge succeeder ! ”
One of her pupil exclaimed , “ I have a go at it getting to plant and water the plants at corner each day ! ”
Ms. Phillips ’ course of instruction spurt with exuberance : “ We had no idea how many different pollinator there are . We mean only bee had the job of pollinating , but moths , squash racket , beetles , and fly also help . We would like to thank the Piedmont Master Gardeners for coming to our school , teaching us , and helping us plant . ”
Ms. Howell ’s pupil added an element of anticipation , “ We had so much fun planting outside ! We loved irrigate the flowers and ca n’t look to watch them flower . Thanks for derive to help our community ! ”
Crozet Principal Staci England sent a Federal Reserve note of gratitude to PMG , pronounce , “ We very much treasure all of you ! Thank you for helping to teach our scholar the importance of working with the earth . ”
Every year , Piedmont Master Gardeners pop the question counsel and on - situation support for Crozet staff and community of interests volunteer at productive downslope and spring workdays to maintain garden area . participant admit families ( parents and children ) from the Crozet PTO , Dr. Staci England , UVA ’s APO service fraternity , UVA students majoring in environmental science , Western Albemarle High School students from the Earth Warriors Club , and teams from the United Way Day of Caring . These lively crowd achieve lots of weeding , mulching , and edging in the flower beds to upgrade the physical appearance of school day land . The striking results of those efforts speak volumes about the enduring strength of this partnership .
Stony Point Elementary School
outside gardening experiences are active and thriving at Stony Point , where handsome flower beds adorn the entrance to the building and a well - stocked nursery and eye - overhear elevate bed are snuggle comfortably behind the school . In summation , two intriguing theme - base court areas – literacy garden and Nipponese garden – are accessible from the Department of the Interior of the building . dealer Maureen Jensen and Assistant Principal Paula Gately are steadfast ace of environmental education who encourage outdoor learning , and parent military volunteer Amber Capron , who is familiar with the school and staff , is a fantastic on - site pardner for PMG .
During the spring of 2023 , Stony Point offered an outstanding after - school garden club for nipper in grades K-2 . Amber Capron organized a kind of hands - on experience , and PMG volunteers run small multi - age groups on a hebdomadary cornerstone . Activities focus on seeds and planting , industrial plant life cycles , territory , taking tutelage of gardens , critters in the garden ( beneficial and pestilence ) , and beekeeping .
This class , with a destination of involving all students at Stony Point in gardening , PMG partner with Stony Point to plan a spectacular Earth Day celebration on April 19 . Assistant Principal Paula Gately and Amber Capron helped coordinate logistics , so that every grade level had an chance for active engagement in small group .
Students determine about pollinators and why they are of import , investigated bee and how they make beloved , take apart fresh bloom to see how pollenation works , explored comestible works parts , and matched seeds with plant .
Utilizing a paved open quad outside the construction , PMG volunteers localize up three activity stations , so that children could rotate through these deal - on activities at assigned times . With a nod to the lasting effects of elementary school learning , the floral department managing director at the Harris Teeter grocery store at Hollymead supplied more than 100 gorgeous fresh - dilute bloom to Stony Pointat no price . Why ? Because she think back her own grade - shoal scientific discipline stratum where they explored flower part !
All SPES student were felicitous to have colorful stickers with details about how to protect pollinators , plus a packet of marigold seeds to take home . teacher and families also catch digital copies of additional activity hypnotism , such as book to understand , videos to watch , and games to encounter ( e.g. , pollinator bingo ) , to extend tyke ’s scholarship after Earth Day .
In reverberate on that special schoolwide project , Paula Gately remarked , “ I was very frantic about this event , and it outgo my outlook ! ”
With a boastful grin on her face , one scholar said , “ It was a swell day ! When can we do this again ? ”
Looking forward
These outstanding schoolyard horticulture projects show that dedicated prison term with small fry in a garden leave an indelible stamp of unrivaled delectation . Each undertaking is customize to meet the motivation of the specific situation , and every project reflects the strategic goals of the Piedmont Master Gardeners :
fourth dimension and prison term again , engaging with masses of all ages in the local biotic community bring joy to every overlord nurseryman . Hopefully , this clause motivates you and others to get word more about our efforts in Albemarle County Schools . Perhaps you will think about how you may be involve in future gardening projects !
