Editor’s note: This report was provided by Lincoln School Garden Leader Liesl Schultz Hying.

Season #8 of the Lincoln Elementary Growing and Learning Garden was once again a success.

Students planted their garden of spring crops in mid-April and were tasting that food before the school year ended. Radishes, lettuces, spinach, kale, and swiss chard all became snacks for students. Learning how plants grow, how long it takes food to grow and showing care and respect to these plants and the space all happen everyday.

All throughout the summer, the garden space was a place to explore, taste new foods, learn about nature and observe the daily changes in the garden. Our Monday Garden Gatherings brought students, families and community members to tend to the space, harvest healthy foods and enjoy friendships. Lincoln families helped to tend to the garden during the summer months.  

When students returned to school in September, they were in awe of the changes in the garden. Sunflowers standing more than 9’ tall, the kale and chard they planted now thick and many tomatoes and green beans to taste. Students enjoy this space during recess, tasting the foods, comparing themselves to sunflowers, discovering insects, creating with the “loose parts” of the tree stumps and as a place to relax and be with friends.

School gardens encourage healthy eating, connect students to where their food comes from, enrich school curriculum, provide hands-on learning, build life-long healthy habits, strengthen community and foster inquiry of the natural world around us.

To get involved with this garden, please contact School Garden Leader Liesl Schultz Hying at Lincsgarden@gmail.com.  Helping hands are needed from April-October.