Fun with Winnebago County Farm to School and Oshkosh Elementary School Gardens

"Teaching children about healthy eating and where our food comes from is just as valuable as teaching them how to read

and write."

— Christine Quinn

Spring is finally here and although we’ve had some crazy weather, students have been working very hard in their school gardens.  Winnebago County Farm to School is partnering with Growing Oshkosh, a non profit organization, to connect with 6 Oshkosh elementary schools. Two years ago, raised beds were installed at Emmeline Cook and Webster Stanley, and last year at Washington Elementary. This year beds were put in at Read, Merrill, and Oaklawn Elementary

In April, all students, ages kindergarten to fifth grade from the 6 Oshkosh elementary schools, sowed seeds (planted seeds in small trays) and kept them in their classroom by their windowsill for a few weeks. Students observed and cared for their plants as they bloomed into beautiful flowers and vegetable plants.  Now in May, students are transplanting their gorgeous plants into their school garden beds. 

Over the summer, volunteers and Growing Oshkosh will tend to the school gardens. If you’re interested in volunteering or helping out with the Oshkosh elementary  school gardens this summer, please contact Jennifer Sattler at growingoshkosh@gmail.com or Emily Verbeten at everbeten@co.winnebago.wi.us, we would love and appreciate your help!

“There is strong evidence that school gardens increase participating children’s vegetable consumption and willingness to try new vegetables (Langellotto GA, Gupta A. Gardening increases vegetable consumption in school-aged children: A meta-analytical synthesis. HortTechnology. 2012;22(4):430–45. "
Link to original source (journal subscription may be required for access)Langellotto 2012, Scherr 2013, Ratcliffe MM, Merrigan KA, Rogers BL, Goldberg JP. The effects of school garden experiences on middle school-aged students’ knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors associated with vegetable consumption. Health Promotion Practice. 2011;12(1):36-43.
Link to original source (journal subscription may be required for access)Ratcliffe 2011, Parmer SM, Salisbury-Glennon J, Shannon D, Struempler B. School gardens: An experiential learning approach for a nutrition education program to increase fruit and vegetable knowledge, preference, and consumption among second-grade students. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior. 2009;41(3):212-7.
Link to original source (journal subscription may be required for access)Parmer 2009, McAleese JD, Rankin LL. Garden-based nutrition education affects fruit and vegetable consumption in sixth-grade adolescents. Journal of the American Dietetic Association. 2007;107(4):662-5.
Link to original source (journal subscription may be required for access)McAleese 2007, Rauzon 2010). Establishing school gardens is a recommended strategy to promote healthy eating, improve nutrition, and reduce obesity (CDC-School-based obesity prevention, CDC MMWR-School health guidelines 2011, CDC-Fruits and vegetables 2011, IOM-Government obesity prevention 2009)."

 

"If people can grow safe, healthy,
affordable food, if they have access
to land and clean water, this is
transformative on every level in a
community. I believe we cannot have
healthy communities without a
healthy food system."
— Will Allen

 

Check out these fun photos of students in their school gardens below. Students are so excited and can’t wait for the food to grow to be able to pick with their families this summer!