Training Centre and School Gardening

Kindergarten students will bus to the nearest high school 3 minutes away, which has established garden beds and be mentored by high school students in gardening skills: 1) preparing soil, seeding and transplanting, 2) weeding, watering and fertilizing, 3) harvesting and cooking, and 4)
seed-saving, with these topics for a total of 4 field trips. The Kindergarten students will remember what they've learned and then apply those skills to their own school garden they will create at their own school. Myself and a high school teacher will pair our students to develop mentoring relationships, thus increasing mental and physical wellness through gardening activities. "Connection with nature", will be established through getting their hands in the soil, learning to respect nature and learning some indigenous plants, they will develop a deep connection with some Indigenous ways and nature. "Connection with others" will be established through allowing for leadership opportunities for the olders with the youngers and for the youngers within their own class when they apply skills in their school garden. "Connection with themselves" will be created through the calming and anxiety-relieving effects of gardening, gaining confidence in learning a skill that is environmentally sustainable over time and the empowerment of knowing when faced with poverty that you know you can grow your own food, connection with themselves is achieved. Discussions regarding the environmental benefits of growing our own food will be throughout which will encourage social responsibility and the awareness of the benefits of gardening for sustainable living.

Update (June 26, 2019)

We are happy to inform you that our project is complete and was a huge success. The Kindergarten students bused to the high school 4 times. The Kindergarten students were very excited to be learning gardening skills from high school students and at first the high school students were a little reluctant. As well as all the students learning skills regarding seeding, watering, fertilizing, harvesting and cooking, we were surprised at how enjoyable and therapeutic it was for Kindergarten students and Grade 11/12 students to have the opportunity to connect and learn together.
For many of the students, it was a highlight of the year. Thank you for your support imagineaction!