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In growing classrooms around the
country,
students and teachers who
are getting hooked on worms, conducting growing investigations, and otherwise
using plants and gardens to enhance learning want to share experiences,
ideas, and questions online with other growing classrooms. To respond to
one of the following listings, click on the teacher's name and send an
e-mail message on the form that pops up. To send us a listing for the E-Mail
Pals Growing Network, click here.
Mixed Grades
 Susan Lawrence – Bakersfield, CA
We cultivated our garden as part of a service learning program. We would
like to exchange ideas about composting, vegetable gardening, organic
methods, and community service.
Kevin
Bumen B
San Luis Obispo, CA
Students in our K-8 school have been gardening since our inception as a charter
school in 1996. Our student garden and experimental farm has over 20 raised beds
and various in-ground plots. We are planning a greenhouse for later this year.
We are interested in sharing ideas and information on composting, propagation,
and organic methods with other schools.
Nancy
Salsman B
El Reno, OK
We are in the process of starting an
elementary school garden and have written grants to purchase a greenhouse. I
would like to communicate with others at the elementary level who have
greenhouses. How are you using yours?
Lynn Seigel-Boettner -- Santa Barbara, CA
Our elementary school is building a Peace Park, beginning with an ABC
Garden and an outdoor science lab to build more beauty at our school and create an outdoor community space! This spring, we are planting a
large circle of 26 donated half wine barrels using an ABC garden theme. Many classes, support staff, principal and superintendent have adopted
barrels and will plant according to their barrel's designated letter. We will also be
using some of our rich soil from our lunch time worm composting program. We'd love to share ideas with other ABC school
gardeners!
Carol Calveri -- Twentynine Palms, CA
My multi-age class is located in a small desert community. Our school is a Title I
school and many of our students have not been beyond our desert. Some of our students' families haul water from our
community to a big tank on their own property. The installation of Internet this year
in all our classrooms has really helped to expand our students' world.
We have two gardens, one for flowers and the other for vegetables. I started this
garden project three years ago. It has not only beautified our school community but
helped my students appreciate the earth, and the work it takes to maintain a garden. The
real reward for the children comes when we harvest the vegetable garden and they eat
the fruits of their labors!
Mary Nied Phillips -- Waco, TX
We are in the process of building a new
green (outdoor) classroom that will be 100 percent handicapped accessible so all of
our students can enjoy gardening. We had to move from another campus two summers
ago, leaving behind our gardens and beautiful Texas Wildscape. But we are starting over, landscaping our front
"yard" and recycling timbers and stones to make new beds Even the special education
students have made their own mini-garden called "Jaime's Place," in honor of a student
no longer with us. We want to build a new raised pond as the centerpiece of the new
garden. Has anyone else built ponds with their students?
Susan Holiday -- Flagstaff, AZ
We are a small K-8 school on the Navajo Indian Reservation. The people out here do
dry farming as well as irrigated. Our class has a small garden, which we water, and a
natural area in which we planted trees and bushes. Our growing season is very limited,
as we live in a "cold desert," and we usually plant in late spring. We are interested in
exchanging experiences with other classrooms.
Georgia
Smith – Lenexa, KS
I teach fifth
grade and am co-sponsor of the school’s environmental club. Through my class
and the environmental club we maintain the gardens for our school. Presently, we
maintain 12 raised beds in the shape of two sunflowers and other various beds
for wildflowers and our "grandmother’s remembrance garden". We are
excited to meet new friends that are interested in the environment, gardens,
weather, and how they relate to each other.
Kathy
Bajek – Reston,VA
Our fifth graders are anxious to learn
about other schools. Our school is located in Fairfax County, a large suburb of
Washington, DC, yet Reston prides itself on maintaining a natural
environment where plants and trees abound. We have recently applied to have our
schoolyard habitat certified. We hope that you will write to us about your
schools and your growing experiences.
Darlene
Yanoff – Quakertown,NJ
Our fifth grade classes have created a
large butterfly garden on our school grounds. We have also installed blue bird
houses and are making trails through the wetlands behind our school. We are
identifying plants, trees and animals. We are researching the ways people,
animals, and plants have been attracted to our grounds throughout history
because of the water and soil here.
Karen
Davvidge – Kula,HI
We have an after-school garden program
with thirty children in grades 1st-5th. Our garden focuses on native Hawaiian
plants such as taro, medicinal herbs, drought tolerant and butterfly attracting
plants. If anyone would like to know more about gardening in Hawaii please
e-mail! Aloha
Debra
Pemberton -- Oak Hill, WV
The Oak Hill Elementary and Collins
Middle School participate in an in-school program know as the Jr. Garden Club.
They organized the in-school program in November of 1996. The club has planted a
vegetable garden, butterfly habitat, and planted over 5 bushels of bulbs on the
school grounds. The projects are all done and maintained by the students for themselves. The students purchased a new GrowLab and we are now starting seeds
fro our spring vegetable garden.
Marshall
Levit -- Houston, TX
beds which we use for science units. Community volunteers of all backgrounds
and ages also assist with maintaining our Garden of Eatin'. Throughout
the year, we deliver fresh organic produce to a local food pantry so everyone
learns the importance of helping the city's hungry. The garden is planted
with a variety of vegetables and herbs, and we will soon have a biblical theme
garden. We would like to exchange with other elementary schools.
Lynn
West -- Flower Mound, TX
We are creating a schoolwide outdoor
learning environment and have just begun a reading garden. Students will
plant bulbs around the perimeter of the garden. We'll next create a classroom/meeting
area surrounded by native trees, raised beds, a butterfly garden, and a
native prairie area. We hope to encourage students to appreciate the environment
and learn in all subject areas. We would like to exchange ideas and experiences
with other who are tackling similar projects.
Mary
Flynn -- Tucson, AZ
I am a special ed. elementary teacher sharing
my love of nature with my students. We do lots of potpourri projects, natural
crafts and have a small garden. We are lucky to be in the desert where
we can garden year round. I'd love to share/trade seeds and new ideas.
Glenn
Oliver -- Anchorage, AK
We have 31 raised beds that we use for
growing vegetables and flowers. We also have a plant stand that we use
for experiments and spring seedlings, and have just built a greenhouse.
We would like to trade seeds with other students and schools, and are interested
in hearing about other school greenhouse projects.
Christine
Danley -- Ft. Wayne, IN
Our school has an environmental emphasis
which integrates other subjects with environmental science. Our 25 acres
contains many ecosystems: wetland, prairie, woodland. Our outdoor classroom
contains many specialized gardens. I would like to share success stories
with other teachers.
David
Chia -- Silver Spring, MD
Our urban school near Washington,
DC is engaged in indoor and outdoor redworm vermicomposting! We are also
preparing to develop our courtyard into an outdoor science classroom to
include worm and insect studies, a butterfly garden, an ecosystem study,
and vegetable and flower gardens. We would like to share outdoor science
classroom ideas and worm composting data with other schools throughout
North America using our school web site. We have two fourth grade classes
that would like to find e-mail pals in third, fourth, or fifth grade class
to "encourage" and share ideas as we develop our courtyards.
We're anxious to hear from you.
Theresa
Beyer -- New Rochelle, NY
Our school has just created a Learning
Garden to be used by grades K-5 across the curriculum. We are interested
in any ideas and suggestions for incorporating all subject areas. We would
also love to hear about successful programs that have been able to get
community support.
Jill
Roberts, Santa Cruz, CA
We have grown a school garden for 20
years with grades K-8 and are now trying to fund a full-time garden teacher
to maintain the 1/4 acre garden and orchard, and tend the 7 acre campus.
We are looking for other such initiatives and ideas for proposals for inside
and outside funding. It was good to find out at the recent Bioneers Conference
in San Francisco that there are so many of us out there working with children
and young adults in the garden!
Ann
O'Connell - Chicago, IL
At the Dever School in Chicago, we are
involved in a prairie garden, bird-watching group, and horticultural therapy
program. Last year the entire school planted more than 500 bulbs, five
trees, and a sensory garden. We are now extending our gardening to incorporate
art (e.g., sculptures, mosaics). We look forward to sharing experiences
with other classrooms.
Grades pre-K-3
to Grade 3
Kristen Russell -- Inverness, FL
We have developed four habitat areas including several native plant
gardens, a pond, nesting houses, and two butterfly enclosures. We raise and
release monarchs, but would like to expand into other species. We work with
grades K-5 and students from a local high school and community college.
Parents and teachers are active participants. Our focus this coming year
will be to help develop garden areas at a local school restoration project
with the local historical society. I would appreciate exchanging ideas or
contacts for such gardens.
Lynn Seigel-Boettner -- Santa Barbara, CA
My second grade class has invited the
entire school to take part in a 26 barrel, ABC garden project. Classes, clubs and
scouts have been invited to "adopt a barrel." I would love to share information on
the topics of barrel gardening, ABC gardens and k-6 shared garden spaces. I'm also interested in
incorporating art and architectural elements.
Maritom Hardy -- Laurens, SC
I work with over 200 students in a grade 2-3 hands-on science lab. We have been
working with FOSS materials, GEMS, AIMS, PLT, Project Wet, and so on. We have developed a "handicapped" mile long
nature tail with bridges and routes accessible to a live creek. We have also developed a songbird/butterfly garden with
an "active pool" and many boxes for planting flowers and vegetables throughout the year.
We hope to learn about wise land management within this project and to be better land
stewards. We look forward to hearing from others concerning their own experiences.
Mickey
Walker – Jasonville,IN
My 3rd grade class has a
butterfly garden on the school grounds. We take part in the Monarch Watch each
year. We plan to expand our garden this spring with a wild flower meadow.
Shakamak Elementary has a Nature Trail Committee that is planning improvements
for a nature trail and wetlands located behind the school. We would like to
share ideas about native plants, wildlife habitat, butterflies, nature trails,
and wetlands.
Gail
Flock – Fremont,CA
I am a mom/volunteer who loves to garden and share garden science information
with kids. This summer we planted an ABC garden with plants beginning with each
letter of the alphabet. Our next goal is to start a butterfly garden/habitat for
the 1st graders. Lastly, our 2nd graders will raise
butterflies for the first time this year to release into the gardens. I would
love information regarding: butterfly gardening and other related projects. I
have used the Banana Slug String Bands wonderful music as a curriculum outline
for the Kindergarten program and it has worked great.
Dennis
Reger – La Quinta,CA
We are ten third
grade classrooms with a 38x38 ft plus a 10x18 foot garden area. In addition to
that there are three other garden plots at our school. Our third graders are
growing everything that you can imagine one could grow in our desert area. We
are located 130 miles east of Los Angeles and about 30 miles east of Palm
Springs, California. We are interested in sharing our project with other
classrooms. Please send us your e-mail soon. We have 5 computers in our room.
Kriss
Welch -- Los Angeles, CA
We are a parent participating pre-school
with a large garden. Our three to six year olds have planted our garden,
which features vegetables, buttefly-attracting flowers, hanging baskets,
fruits, and water garden plants. We also compost. Once a week, the children
explore a theme in the garden, always taking home a related project from
that day's theme. I would love to correspond and exchange ideas with someone
working with this age children.
Joanne
Bauer -- Feasterville, PA
We are a national wildlife registered
school habitat and are looking for other schools to share information on
how they garden for wildlife. My third graders are currently participating
in Cornell's Classroom Feeder Watch program, and are always looking for
new plants and trees to attract birds. We would like to hear how other
schools are using their garden activities to meet curriculum requirements.
Ivy
Allgeier -- Sykesville, MD
Last year my second grade students
planted a butterfly garden in the wetlands area on our school grounds.
My students and I will continue into third grade together. We will be studying
plants this year and are interested in growing plants indoors. We would
love to hear from you and your students to share ideas and information
about what we know and are doing.
Karla
Kensey -- Hilliard, OH
Our elementary school has an outdoor
education committee working on an overall K-5 curriculum plan. We have
a 40' by 60' garden and are expanding. We would love to chat about what
is happening at your school. My second graders learn about butterflies
and raise the painted lady butterfly each spring.
Rose
Eckman -- Glassport, PA
Our first grade classes plant bulbs
around the flagpole in October, observe and record growth all winter, and
observe and record blooms in the spring. We correlate this with math, science,
reading, and social studies. We would love to talk to other first grades
who are growing things.
Barbara
May -- Euclid, OH
My elementary school has completed three gardens
including our Glenbrook Science Discovery Garden. We would love to talk
with other schools (and second grade classrooms) about garden projects
and science lessons. We have completed a handbook of science lessons, and
would like to exchange ideas.
Glynnis
Fellers -- York, SC
I am a new kindergarten teacher who loves
to use plants to teach science. We grow flowers and beans and explore seeds,
sprouts, and roots, and soil. Since we don't have an outdoor garden, we
do all of our growing in the room. I would love to exchange with other
teachers who can only grow indoors.
Lori
Galvin -- Meriden, CT
This past spring, students have been busy
planning and planting a schoolyard habitat. After researching the types
of bushes and plants we needed to attract butterflies, hummingbirds, and
wildlife, we spent many Saturdays preparing the soil and planting. We are
also hoping to expand the project to include plots that individual classroom
teachers may use with their classrooms. Please let us know about your experiences
and how you use garden plots to enrich classroom units.
Leonore
Gualano -- Jacksonville, FL
We are in the second year of our
urban gardening project. We would like to communicate with other students
in grades 3 and 4 to compare growing seasons, plants, and project experiences.
Gloria
Woods -- Hammondsport, NY
Our K-3rd grade 4-H garden club has
started seeds under lights and planted them in our school garden. We would
like to build a pond, plant a butterfly garden, raise bulbs, and create
a natural habitat in our schoolyard. We'd love to hear how you got started
and got the community involved.
Beth
Spears -- Rogers, AR
My second graders just landscaped the front
of our school. We measured the garden,laid fescue sod, and made a rose
bed. We have hedges, hosta, impatiens, holly, and lillies. We wonder what
you have done in your gardens.
S.
Soucek -- Milford, DE
Our grade 1-4 school started an outdoor
classroom in our courtyard. We have put in an herb garden, a butterfly
garden, bird-attracting shrubs, bird houses, butterfly houses, a strawberry
patch, and more. We would love to share ideas with other schools on how
to use our newly-created classroom with our curriculum.
Cheryl
Weiss -- Philadelphia, PA
We turned a lot that had been filled
with weeds and trash into a school garden that is a learning resource that
also helped create a sense of neighborhood pride. My third graders raise
start all of the plants from seed in the classroom, then transplant them.
We would like to hear from anyone who is interested in urban gardening
with children.
Charlene
McPherson -- San Ramon, CA
My second graders garden in containers
and raised beds, growing soup and salad gardens and producing herbs and
flowers for gifts and seed harvesting. We also practice organic and worm
composting. We love to read and write about gardening, and welcome pen
pals.
Grades 4-6
Pat
Keenan -- Worcester, MA
We have a classroom GrowLab and would
love to communicate with other fourth graders to compare our growing experiences.
Peggy
Marchetti -- New Rochelle, NY
My third through fifth graders
plan and plant a three sisters (native American) garden, butterfly garden,
herb garden, and hummingbird garden. We incorporate literature, math, science,
and technology as we use our greenhouse. Students also harvest and sell
their products to local stores and sell plants at a school sale.
Steve
Rich -- Douglasville, GA
My sixth grade science students have
helped establish our outdoor learning center which includes a butterfly
garden, bird garden, herb garden, and mock archeological dig. We are also
involved in Monarch Watch and Journey North. Butterflies are my special
interest and we have an indoor butterfly cage in which we raise and observe
painted lady and monarch butterflies. I would like for my students to exchange
ideas with yours regarding school gardens or butterfly watching.
Roberta
Blake -- Los Angeles, CA
With our 1998 Youth Garden Grant, we
put in a 28-plot garden. My fifth graders would like to compare weather
and planting conditions along with soil and plant experiments. We would
like to share our gardening experiences with other 5th grade students and
teachers.
Libby
Helseth -- Indialantic, FL
Three years ago, I began a "garden
buddy" program bridging gardening and science skills between 5th and
3rd grades. We had 5 raised beds. Now three years later, we are proud to
say we are teaching many of the Florida Sunshine Standards through organic
gardening with 13 raised beds and a demonstration garden which is a certified
Florida Yard. I am looking for e-mail contacts for grade 4 for the 1999/2000
schoolyear.
Lee
Ann Olsen -- Mystic, CT
Our fourth grade class is raising a
Connecticut historical plant garden and a butterfly garden in our courtyard.
We would like to try some joint experiments with seeds, plants, and growing
conditions with classrooms from other states. We also welcome ideas and
projects from you.
Elba
Marrero, New York, NY
My 6th graders are engaged in an herbal
curriculum. We learn about different cultures as we grow and study the
importance of herbs around the world. We have a raised herb bed in a community
garden, and use the herbs to make sachets and potpourris, which we sell
to raise funds for charity and class projects. We have also explored fairies,
dried flowers, herbs, and literature. This year, we are studying trees
in Central Park, doing Power Point presentations, and tying in art and
math with our tree studies. We like sharing ideas with others on integrating
herbs, flowers, and trees into the curriculum.
Della
Richards, Pembroke, MA
My fourth graders have been using a GrowLab
for various individual plant projects to explore plant needs. The children
would enjoy keypals to share their discoveries and learn about each other.
Tanya
Puroff - Amarillo, TX
Hello cyberspace gardeners! My fourth
graders at Carver Elementary Academy, (a technology magnet school), have
a large garden as part of our science program. We've designed a nature
walk in which 4th graders take younger children to look for signs of spring.
We have partnered with kindergarteners to help them plant carrots, lettuce,
beets, and collards in small raised beds. We've also started a garden in
15 cylinders since our soil is "ultra" hard clay. We planted
a variety of things to attract Black Swallow Tail butterflies such as dill,
parsley, alyssum, marigolds, and fennel. This year we were awarded some
grants that enabled us to expand our beds, build 2 compost bins, and purchase
a mini rolling greenhouse! My students and I would love to network with
other schools out there with garden projects.
Grades 7+
John
Capozzoli – Pasadena,TX
We have a large outdoor garden with
many varieties of veggies and herbs run by 150 students. We have recently been
awarded a grant to expand and are forming a relationship with 4H to become a
model site.
Liz
Rochester -- Irving, TX
We have just started building a greenhouse,
for which we received a grant. My special ed students are learning about
plants and putting them into the greenhouse. I would like to talk and share
ideas with others who are using or hope to use greenhouses.
Jen
Anonia -- Eugene, OR
I am the education coordinator for a Youth
Farm, a 2-acre organic vegetable farm where a youth crew, aged 14-18, grows
food for the local food bank. Each week we have lessons on different topics
in organic agriculture and small business management. I am currently developing
a curriculum and would like to share/exchange project and lesson ideas.
Alison
Lincoln -- Miami, FL
I teach horticulture to 6-8th graders with
emotional handicaps. We have a garden plot and small shade house to grow
house plants. I would like to exchange ideas with others in similar situations
on keeping the students interested and motivated.
Karen
Smith -- Saddle Brook, NJ
I am a 7th and 8th grade math and
science teacher who has collaborated with another teacherr to create 3
raised bed gardens for flowers and vegetables. We would like the students
to be very much involved in garden planning and welcome suggestions. If
there are any classes that would like to correspond with us and exchange
plans, progress, and ideas via e-mail as our gardens grow, that would be
terrific!
Robin Nichols -- Prather,
CA
I am starting a garden cuisine class with my 7th graders which
will meet daily. It will include gardening and cooking skills since we
have a foods lab on campus. I have a strong background in nutritional science
and cooking, but would appreciate tidbits on what lessons/scheduling has
worked for you. I will happily share lessons I develop for this class.
Karren
Cherrington -- Hamilton, NJ
Our garden club has 125 6th-8th
graders, 12 flower beds, and a flat row garden. We are designing new raised
beds for this spring and also have a small grant-funded greenhouse. We
would like to exchange ideas and experiences with other schools who already
use raised bed gardening.
Helen
Peterson -- Collins, MS
I teach biology at a rural high school.
Since I have a degree and interest in textiles and love native plants,
I will help students study their local natural heritage. I would be glad
to share some of my successful plant biology lessons. The students would
love to pen pal with elementary or older school gardeners.
Patty
Doss, Grand Junction, Colorado
I am a horticulture instructor
at a vocational training school. Students age 14-20 gain skills in the
floral, greenhouse, and landscape industries by operating businesses through
our career center's lab program. We have just constructed a pond, butterfly
garden, and native garden. We are looking for grades 7-12 pen pals who
have had similar gardening experiences.
Ellen
Walker, Ephraim, UT
Our public alternative high school in rural
Utah has a greenhouse in which we start native plants, ornamentals for
xeriscaping, and some vegetables. Our goal each year is to donate some
plants to help landscape public places and to sell some plants to make
money for new seeds. We tie our plant work with interdisciplinary units,
enabling students to earn credits toward graduation. We would especially
like to hear from others with experience germinating seeds of native Western
plants.
Jo
Naegeli - Rogers, TX
My sixth and seventh graders will be growing
plants throughout the school year. We will use our plants for studies as
well as for school ground beautification, and would like to exchange ideas
and experiences with other schools.
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