2. YOUNG SPROUTS GROW & LEARN GARDEN

3. Ground Breaking

4. It’s really coming along…

5. Almost ready for planting!

6. 4th-grade students were kept busy as they planted cucumbers, squash, zucchini, and herbs.

7. 3 rd graders planted green leafy vegetables. Kale, spinach, collards, turnip greens, cabbage, lettuce, broccoli, peppers, mustard greens…and we added a little cotton, too!

8. Students painted river rocks and created “ladybugs”!

9. Young students waited patiently for the ribbon-cutting ceremony to begin.

10. RIBBON-CUTTING CEREMONY May 15, 2015

11. We proudly showed off the Young Sprouts Grow & Learn Garden to our guests!

12. GARDEN HAPPENINGS Early Childhood Our 3- to 5-year old students planted pumpkin seeds in our garden. They also built a worm farm in their classroom and participated in a “Free the Worms” event! Yes, the worms were let loose in the Young Sprouts garden to help it grow! Kindergarten Our kindergarten students learned to identify many different plants, flowers, and vegetables. Just like our kindergarteners, our Young Sprouts garden is raring to “grow”!

13. GARDEN HAPPENINGS 1 st Grade Our first-grade students learned about the life stages of butterflies, and they will let their classroom butterflies free to explore the Young Sprouts garden. Perhaps they will be using their counting and measurement skills when the sunflowers are in full bloom. 2 nd Grade Our second-grade students planted peas and various other seeds, which integrated perfectly with a science unit they have completed regarding seed growth. They also learned a great deal about habitats, and our garden provided a perfect opportunity for the students to experience, first-hand, the many habitats being created in and around it.

14. GARDEN HAPPENINGS 3 rd Grade Our third-grade students visited the Young Sprouts garden as a whole group and planted green leafy vegetables. They learned about the importance of healthy eating as well as the benefit of growing organic vegetables. 4 th Grade Our fourth-grade students assisted in the completion of our garden, from start to finish; they have taken on the main role and have been quite responsible. They discussed composting and will be involved in creating our own garden compost. Fourth-grade students created the “ladybugs” that can be seen throughout the Young Sprouts garden, adding color and whimsy to the already blooming garden.

15. A “COMMUNITY” GARDEN While our students have certainly learned a lot about gardening, perhaps the most important lessons learned have been the intangibles – volunteering, citizenship, giving back to the community, and helping those in need. Our harvested crops will be donated to the Homer Community Church and the Lockport Food Pantry.