MIAMI – Having fresh food, saving money and connecting with nature are just some of the benefits of growing your own vegetable garden. And when you install gardens in public spaces, such as schools, those benefits include a therapeutic learning experience for students.
As part of our Food for Thought initiative, Local 10 recently collaborated with the Urban Oasis Project, an organization whose mission is to make local, healthy food accessible to all.
We installed what the nonprofit terms “give gardens” at two South Florida schools. Sponsored by our Food for Thought partners at Publix, the 3x7 gardens teach students the intricate process of correctly planting and harvesting crops.
“It’s just an opportunity for us to do our part to really bridge the connection between how vegetables come from the ground and get to the shelves,” said Publix Community Relations Manager Robyn Hankerson Printemps.
The first installation took place at Miami Northwestern High School, where Rhi Gonzalez, the Give Garden Coordinator at Urban Oasis Project, explained the importance of starting with cover crops. Cover crops are plants that primarily protect the soil, managing soil erosion, soil fertility, soil quality and weeds.
“What cover crops do are a great way to keep your soil and garden active and productive during the months that we can’t be growing other types of vegetables,” said Gonzalez.
The gardens will help the environmental science students at the school appreciate the value of good nutrition.
“Academics is important, safety is important, but nutrients is on a day-to-day basis that you have to take care of yourself for long-term living,” said Carneasha Parks, Miami Northwestern High School’s science coach.
At Gulfstream Academy of Hallandale Beach K-8 Center, the school’s principal, Lynne Bonny, was excited to receive two give gardens for her elementary students.
“This will also allow our families to be a little bit more involved on campus,” said Bonny. “They’ll help us to maintain the gardens and they’ll also benefit from the produce that they grow.”
Fourth grade and Garden Club student Renese Johnson is hoping to grow rosemary. Her fellow classmate, Jaezien Fuentes, is reveling in the potential to grow all kinds of vegetables.
“If it’s fine with the school, I can bring some seeds so that I could grow it inside of here and then share it with some of my classmates,” said Fuentes.
According to Gonzalez, Fuentes, along with all the other students, won’t have to wait very long.
“We’re feeding the soil so that in the second half of the semester the soil will be feeding them,” said Gonzalez.
“In about 8 weeks the seeds would have grown and ready to be transplanted into these garden beds, and about a month or two after that, the plants should be fruiting and giving kids a good harvest all the way through March,” added Gonzalez.
To date, Urban Oasis Project has installed more than 200 give gardens in public and private spaces. The organization also provides discount produce boxes and manages weekly farmers’ markets.
To find out more, visit urbanoasisproject.org.