Garden Smarts Service Learning Projects

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Overview

The Garden Smarts service learning program is a project based, year-round garden program currently made possible with funding from Philanthropic Ventures.  The Collective Roots staff works closely with teachers at the participating school to create projects that will reflect and enhance classroom curricula.  Students are involved in project research, completion, presentation and reflection.  Students showcase their service learning projects to their family and friends on Garden Smarts Day in June, making garden smarts a community event.    

Garden Smarts Day 2009

Garden Smarts Day was June 6th this year and the event was a huge success!  Students from the East Palo Alto Charter School (EPACS) celebrated their completion of year-long service learning projects with their families in the Collective Roots-EPACS garden.  Thank you to World Centric for their donation of biocompostable cups and plates for the event! 

2008-2009 Projects

The following projects were presented at Garden Smarts Day 2009:

Baylands Garden

As a hands-on enhancement of habitat curriculum and a way to connect to our own backyard, third grade students thoroughly researched the flora and fauna of the East Palo Alto Baylands and have begun to plant their Baylands garden!  The garden showcases the following species: Salt grass, Sea lavender, pickleweed, Marsh gumplant and the salt marsh harvest mouse.  As a part of the project, students traveled to the Don Edwards Wildlife Sanctuary for a fantastic field trip focusing on the wetlands habitat. Collective Roots would like to thank Save the Bay for their generous pant donation for the project.

Companion Planting Study

Two fourth grade classes created a companion planting garden, and conducted a scientific investigation to evaluate the success of the gardening practice.  Students evaluated the effects on companion planting through online research, hands-on planting and regular data keeping. Their findings were presented at the East Palo Alto Charter School Science Fair.

Zoo Garden

Kindergarteners planted a zoo garden, containing species that are named after animals such as: zebra grass, kangaroo paw, fox glove, hummingbird sage, feather grass, hens and chicks.  This made for a great introduction to the garden for the school’s newest students.

Past Projects

Past projects have included researching and planting a pollinator garden, creating a five senses garden, Hunger and Alertness Tracking, Chinese medicinal garden and constructing a pond habitat.