Elizabeth Haddon Elementary School teachers and students had a great time celebrating the garden’s 5th anniversary after school on Thursday, April 21. The students enjoyed Earth Day crafts, garden themed face painting, and making and then planting their own newspaper seed pots. Don’t be surprised if you see lots of sunflowers in the Lizzy Haddon section this summer.
The kids enjoyed music, giveaways, popsicles and healthy fruit smoothies donated by Animo Juice. Fun was had by all, over 150 kids participated.
Some garden facts:
Groundbreaking for the garden occurred in April of 2011.
Elizabeth Haddon School Garden is the first in the school district. It is comprised of eight raised beds of vegetables and flanked by three butterfly and herb gardens. The gardens are prominently located on the west side of the school, next to our playground on the corner of Avondale and Redman Avenues.
The school garden and newly constructed outdoor seating area serves as an outdoor classroom, enhancing the teacher’s existing curriculum and providing hands on learning experiences for all grade levels in the school. The teachers, supported by an active group of “garden parents,” have begun to incorporate the garden into their classes on a regular basis with various projects like seed starting and growth measurement, history lessons and writing exercises. During the summer months, the beds are cared for and enjoyed by school families.
The garden was created by a team of volunteer parents, teachers and the school principal and is planted and maintained each year by classes of enthusiastic students. The students have the unique opportunity enjoying their harvests in the school cafeteria during special salad bar days.
