Learning Garden Opens At Woodstock Elementary School

WOODSTOCK, GA — Woodstock Elementary School students will now have a hands-on way to learn about various flowers, and how food is grown and ends up on their kitchen tables.

The school recently held a ribbon cutting to celebrate the opening of its Learning Garden, which includes six raised beds with room for vegetables, plants, butterfly garden, herbs and even a blueberry patch, said fifth-grade teacher Kirsten Kern who oversees the schools' garden committee.

Kern said the idea for the learning garden began when the discussion was tossed around between a former assistant principal and Robert Tidwell, a member of the school's governing council. Tidwell, who's also a member of the Rotary Club of Woodstock, was able to secure donations and other tools necessary to transform the school's project from a dream into a reality.

Woodstock Elementary also relied on the expertise of Hutcheson Horticultural Company, who provided the landscaping and installed the irrigation needed for the garden. Mark Hutcheson, founder and president of the company, "has been very supportive of our garden and continues to advise us," Kern noted.

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Of course, the project got the backing of Principal Kim Montalbano, who Kern said has been a consistent champion of the cause. Kern noted she hopes to have the garden become certified by the Georgia Native Plant Society, and part of that process includes allowing students to enjoy the harvest once they return to school for the 2018-19 school year.

“There are kids who haven’t experienced eating lettuce, arugula, or radishes," she said, adding she wants to help little ones expand their palate.

For example, she is hoping the blueberry patch will be ready for picking when school resumes so those goodies can be incorporated into the school cafeteria menu.

“That’s part of the reason for learning garden — better nutrition and understanding where our food comes from," she added.

Kern told Patch she hopes the garden will allow students to not only enjoy eating fresh fruits and vegetables, but also enjoy being outdoors and getting their hands dirty. She also wants to use the garden as a draw to bring in chefs and others to teach youngsters about various plants and how to create tasty, nutritious meals.

“‘It’s all about getting our kids back outside, making positive ties with their community, improving school spirit and getting them out there to enjoy fresh food," she added.

Images via Cherokee County School District