from seeds to sprouts to a fruitful fall

Fall: The (re)Birth Of The Garden

"It is my belief that when young people are opened to living as a part of nature and living purposefully, they act on inspiration and become leaders of change."


-Penny Livingston-Clark

The goals of this learning garden are to foster personal connections between students and the environment, to provide a living example of where our food comes from, and to cultivate how we can incorporate ourselves into that cycle. In doing so we hope to awaken and build upon their curiosity to nature as well as seed a sense of environmental stewardship for the future. 

our dear kate coury, the mother of the garden

       The Prospect Learning Garden was a project started by Virginia Dreier and Kate Coury in 2006 as a place for Prospect Elementary School Students to learn about and explore growing flowers, herbs and food.
     This past fall we taught workshops during the 3rd and 5th grade recess time. The workshops were centered on "weed" identification, medicinal plant uses, soil health, compost, beneficial insects, seeds, compost, and cover crops. The lessons were all very informal, personal, and structured around the students' interests. In the process of teaching, we prepared the garden space for winter. We weeded away invasive plants, nourished the soil with worm- filled compost, and planted each bed with a cover crop of red clover to keep nitrogen levels high during the winter months. We also made compost bins and informative signs to provide students with information about the garden and soil cycles.

       This fall taught us a lot about working within a community and at a school. Engaging the students during recess, made the garden a place of fun and creativity in a way that made spurred appreciation and curiosity. Our hope is that we can cultivate an understanding that can be nurtured throughout the year.