Gardens feed and teach communities, serving as pantries and classrooms at the same time. We’re excited that school gardens have blossomed at seven Community Schools!
What are the benefits of gardening with children?
Gardens teach children valuable lessons. They help students learn about biology and where fresh produce comes from. Gardens benefit students developmentally by helping them form habits such as watering and caring for plants and also teach them about healthy eating as well. Locomotor skills, body management skills and object control skills all develop through gardening. Research also shows that getting up close and personal with dirt can improve children’s mental and physical health.
Want to garden with your child? Many plants and vegetables grow year round, and inside. Here is how you can get your child involved with gardening!
How do school gardens benefit the community?
At Community Schools, gardens allow community members to grow and eat fresh, healthy produce.
Gregory Wright Community Schools Coordinator at Edward Gideon Elementary School said, “We have parents coming by all the time asking when the beets will be ready to to share. It’s such a great thing to have the community invested, and it’s really shown the kids that people want to be involved in their school.”
Here are the seven Community Schools with gardens:
1. William Cramp Elementary School
2. Tilden Middle School
3. South Philadelphia High School
4. Southwark School
5. Edward Gideon Elementary School
6. Logan Elementary School
7. F.S. Edmonds Elementary School
Special thank you to partners who made these gardens possible including:
- Interpret Green
- Mural Arts
- POP (Philadelphia Orchard ProjectPennsylvania Horticultural Society
- Sankofa Farm at Bartram’s Garden
- Lower Moyamensing Civic Association (LoMo)
- Trust for Public Land
- Garden Club of America’s Philadelphia Chapter
- Philadelphia City Repair Project
- Bringing Everyone Together (BET)
- Primex Garden Supply
- Mount Airy Community Council
If you’d like to find more gardens – or get some inspiration before you start your own – check out over 60 urban agriculture projects on Philadelphia Parks & Recreation land, including orchards, vegetable and fruit production, youth education gardens, inter-generational gardens, community gardens, and market farms.
