by Meghan Grainer and Brandon Orange
A garden located between the gym and Building 4 is helping teach 21st century learning skills.
Exceptional education teachers Jonathan Gosney and Jennifer Gay use the Edible Classroom to teach aspects of school and life.
Mr. Gosney said the idea for the garden came from an annual contest to help the environment. His original plan was to create a rain garden by digging a big hole to grow plants that survive in marsh-like environments, but he decided raised beds would be less complicated to maintain.
“This is really the kids’ project. They are very protective of it,” Mr. Gosney said. “If they see another kid out there, they will let them know not to put trash in it.”
The students also built an eight by eight foot shed using recycled cans from the cafeteria as siding and shingles and a 220-gallon irrigation system containing four 55-gallon barrels with piping from the gutter of Building 4. The contractor who renovated the school assisted with the construction work. In the garden, students grow vegetables including tomatoes, squash, zucchini, cucumbers, bell peppers and herbs.
“We grow lots of vegetables, and building the rain barrels was fun,” senior Travis Davis said.
Mr. Gosney said students have learned math, science and English from working in the garden. They have made measurements, studied plant growth and completed reading and writing projects.
“I had one parent tell me that they loved the garden because their child was learning how to build things,” Mr. Gosney said.
In addition to learning core subjects in the garden, students have also learned everyday skills like cooking.
Junior Kearston Gunter said she enjoys working in the garden.
“It teaches us responsibility and healthy living,” Kearston said.
The Functional Academics program, which is a part of the Exceptional Education Department, takes care of the garden.
When the weather permits, Mr. Gosney and Mrs. Gay take their students outside to the garden to have classes in the sunlight.
Junior Catherine Faggins said she likes having class in the garden because it gives her a different experience from the classroom.
“It teaches us about friendship,” Catherine said.
Mr. Gosney said most schools used to have a garden as part of the curriculum.
“A lot of students do not even know where the vegetables that are in the store actually come from,” Mr. Gosney said.
Sophomore Pierre Evans said that he has learned about planting seeds and about insects.
“Students will go out and sit on a picnic table or pick the vegetables,” Mrs. Gay said.
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