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   An extension grant from Gateway Greening will allow for eight new garden beds at Halls Ferry Elementary School to expand its Falcon Garden. The original August 2014 grant provided for eight initial garden beds. The garden beds are used to teach students about food growth and its correlation to various subject areas.

“We are expanding the Falcon Garden so students can continue to learn about how food grows and be connected to it throughout their time at Halls Ferry,” said Sara Fitzpatrick, a second grade teacher and Falcon Garden leader.

Second graders maintain the initial eight garden beds, growing Swiss chard, lettuce, mustard greens, kohlrabi, Brussels sprouts, carrots, basil, lemon balm, mint, thyme, oregano and radishes.  The students study all subject areas through the garden with an emphasis on science and math.

The school’s health teacher will use the new beds to teach health.  Other uses will include inquiry-based exploration of soil and worms by preschool and kindergarten students, and ties to curriculum areas in fourth through sixth grade.

Last school year, students harvested the produce, and with the support of the cafeteria staff, the produce was placed on the school’s salad bar for students to enjoy during lunch.  They will again, harvest the produce in October, and lettuce from the garden will be placed on the salad bar.  Families were also given samples of herbs to take home.

Halls Ferry also has a Green Thumb Garden Club for students in third through sixth grade who want to learn how to grow their own food.

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