Interning at the Garden School Foundation

By Elizabeth F., Spring 2023

Hi! My name is Elizabeth and I am a junior majoring in environmental studies. This is my second semester interning for the Garden School Foundation at 24th Street Elementary. GSF is a non-profit organization that provides a garden-based curriculum to elementary school kids at historically Title I schools. They have two main programs, being the “Seed to Table” curriculum and the “Cafeteria to Compost” program. Both programs help instill the inherent value of nature into young children. The curriculum is based on nutrition, science, and gardening skills such as composting. This semester, I have been able to focus more on assisting in the classroom. From revising lesson plans with my supervisor, Laura, to helping kids throughout the lessons during class, I have really enjoyed being in the classroom more. One of my favorite classes is the cooking class where the kids chop ingredients to make a healthy dish. They made a carrot salad and practiced being in the “two-bite club” meaning that they took two bites of a dish before deciding if they liked the food or not.

I have also been amending soil beds, tending to the greenhouse, dealing with the excess rainwater, suppressing weeds, helping with the compost program, and painting. I have learned a lot about gardening and composting and am happy to have these life-long skills.

I have also been able to attend the community garden days where members of the local community come to the 24th Street garden location to help with garden projects. This is a fun part of the internship as you get to see a lot of progress in one day, connect with local residents who are involved in community outreach and gardening, and celebrate all of the progress that has been made in the garden.

When I first arrived in the garden in August of 2022, it was much less beautiful and productive than it is now. It has been fun to work with the garden staff, my co-interns, and the kids. I am happy to have seen how the garden has come along and to have assisted in children’s education.