Growing an Outdoor Classroom

It my look like a garden, but the gated patch of land growing vegetables behind Lincoln Hubbard School is really an outdoor classroom that has come to provide students and administrators at the school with a host of rich material for education and environmental responsibility.

“My first grade team really has this vision to start a tiny garden by the windows at the first grade level - that’s how this started out,” said Lincoln Hubbard Principal Matt Carlin. “Getting the students involved in growing the seeds and having an opportunity to grow what would support their curriculums.”

Over time, others in the broader school community got involved, such as parent-teacher organization (PTO) member Leah Griffith, who as a member of the landscaping committee, spearheaded efforts to help the teachers by raising funds and other support.

What began as a few dozens of plans on windows has sprouted - even sprawled - into a 100 feet by 50 foot lot that backs up against the school, a carefully manicured garden neatly lined with three large beds, is home to various herbs and vegetables, such as basil, squash and even pumpkins.

First grade teachers who spearheaded the garden concept, purchased the seeds, implemented the garden application in their classrooms include: Susan Podolak, Courtney Nelson, Karen Ferry.  Abigail Mac Donald and Alex Penetra have also contributed to the development of the garden.

Grade 5 students, unders the supervision of Mrs. Barbara Slezak, Mrs. Karen harrisonb, Mrs. Lori Kerzner worked with their 1st grade buddies last spring to prepare the garden for planting.

All of what is grown in the garden is selected to reinforce core curriculum concepts - science, math, language arts and history - and spotlights the collaborative efforts between the school community, including Pomptonian, the district’s food service vendor.

Much of the arrangement of the some of the vegetables have been given a clear educational focus. A particular arrangement of corn, green beans and squash -  known as a Three Sisters Garden used by the Lenape Indians - can be used to teach social studies. Mrs. Kathy Branchflower, a fourth grade teacher, planted the corn, beans, and squash last spring - this enriched the Social Studies unit on the Lenni Lenape.

Carlin said that students now have the option to even go beyond the classroom in learning about what the garden can offer. Along with a parent volunteer, students can elect to use one recess period per week to go out to the garden and weed or harvest.

“That is in line with what we are trying to do at Lincoln - build options for kids,” Carlin said. “Not every kid wants to go out and play kickball.”

The garden’s pumpkin patch holds particular significance as it has been used by Carlin metaphorically in presentation to convey school values and illustrate pillars of character. For example, one of the photos in Carlin’s welcoming presentation kicking off the school year bears a photo of three pumpkins - all of various sizes to indicate diversity. Another illustrates a pumpkin that grew squeezed between the posts of the garden’s fence to communicate not giving up when times get tough. 

Carlin said there’s also an element of giving back to the school’s food offerings involved in the garden as well. After the garden was up and running Carlin thought, “could we take some of (the vegetables) and give it back through what we were providing through the food service?” 

The garden’s initial yield of basil, in 2010, was carefully turned in to pesto sauce that was ultimately used at the high school. This year, however, the students harvested tomatoes, peppers and squash which became featured vegetables within Pomptonian’s Farmstand concept. The Farmstand acts a mini farmer’s market offering students fresh fruits and vegetables as part of their lunch offerings.

“It has been very well received,” said Pomptonian’s Operations Manager Tina Cappello. “In a community like Summit, the kids know the products that we put out. We even put out hummus. It’s a great connection.”