Guest Authors: Kari Buckindail and Christi Sizemore Behrend with support from Yaza Sarieh
Yaza Sarieh is the Community Collaborations Coordinator at Georgia Organics. Kari Buckindail is the Communications & Fine Arts Center Coordinator for Monroe County Schools. Christi Sizemore Behrend is a Monroe County community member and parent volunteer.
The 2024 Farm to School Innovation Mini Grant program is underway, and we are excited to start sharing some of the wonderful work that awarded school districts have been up to!
We are pleased to spotlight the Monroe County School Nutrition Department’s project, which aims to expand education, support the local economy, and serve Georgia grown fruits and vegetables to nearly 780 elementary school students. Activities include:
Expanding garden education to first grade and gifted program students
Inviting the school community, including local farmers/growers and high school students, to help build a small greenhouse and install rain barrels
Purchasing fresh produce from local farmers to support student taste tests in the cafeteria
Photo courtesy of Conni Tane, Monroe County Schools
During the project thus far, students from across the district have come together to help build a greenhouse for T.G. Scott Elementary School. Through this initiative, the Monroe County School Nutrition Department has created a greater sense of community and investment among students in different grade levels, while also supporting the unique needs of multi-age students in their agriculture and nutrition education journeys.
To build the greenhouse at T.G. Scott Elementary School, students in Mr. DJ Hurn’s construction class at Mary Persons High School constructed PVC pipe greenhouse cover frames for the garden beds. After these materials were delivered to T.G. Scott, Principal Chad Sanders along with the TGS Gifted Teacher, Mrs. Ashton Watts, collaborated with the Outdoor Club to put the plastic covering on the greenhouse cover frames, and prepare the garden for planting. Under the direction of TGS 1st Grade Teacher, Mrs. Nell Onstott, students in the TGS Elementary Garden Club contributed to the work by helping with the plastic covering for the greenhouse and planting/watering the seeds.
Photo courtesy of Chelsea Jenkins and DJ Hurn, Monroe County Schools
Photo courtesy of Conni Tane, Monroe County Schools
Photo courtesy of Conni Tane, Monroe County Schools
Meanwhile, the students in the Garden Club at T.G. Scott Elementary School have already been having fun in the garden! They’ve planted broccoli seeds, are caring for their plants, and begun learning about their life cycle. Once the plants were big enough, students had the chance to taste and enjoy the very same vegetables right out of the garden that they cared for themselves.
Photo courtesy of Nell Onstott, TG Scott Elementary School
These first-grade students are very proud of their gardening accomplishments and the vegetables they cultivated! The district is very thankful to Mrs. Nell Onstott for leading the Garden Club activities, and inspiring kids to enjoy gardening and to eat fresh vegetables.
Monroe County has truly demonstrated its commitment to improving hands-on garden education and utilizing garden spaces to get everyone outside learning outdoors!
For more information about Monroe County School Nutrition Services, visit mphs.monroe.k12.ga.us/page/nutrition-services for more details about their programming. You can also follow updates from Monroe County Schools on Facebook (Monroe County Schools), Instagram (@monroecountyga4h), X, formerly Twitter (@monroe_schools), and YouTube (@MonroeCountySchoolsGA).
To learn more about Georgia Organics, visit georgiaorganics.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube.