Create Garden Classrooms at 3 Low-Income Schools

Jovial Concepts started working with Kyffin Elementary school 3 months ago when we recieved a call from a 5th grade student. "We want to create a garden at our school" said a small voice on the other side of the line. A few weeks later I was standing on the flood plane that is their muddy field and looking at the open space behind. The field is small and due to lack of funds for upkeep, frequently becomes a mud pit. To keep the mud to a minimum, students can only use the field a couple of days per week.

7 student counsil students took my hand and lead me around their school. Each one took the time to talk about why they wanted to create a school garden and what it meant for their school. In 2015 the student counsil surveyed their fellow students asking "What would make our school better?"

They said the most common response was having healthier school lunches and better cafeteria options. Marie told me that she saw the garden as a way to educate her classmates about healthy food. She thought that getting kids to visit the garden would increase excercise and their understanding of the food in their lunch. Brett told me that there is only junk food options in their cafeteria, having a garden would allow the creation of a salad bar. He hoped students would even get to take part in prepping the food. "I want to to learn how to cut carrotts and tomatoes!!" he exclaimed while hopping towards the playground.

As we walked around the student's sports field, Kimmy told me that she wanted to be a leader for her school. She wanted to make it better in a way that would be remembered years after she moved on. She said, "The garden should be beautiful and make everyone feel invited." She wants to create an aesthetic hub for her peers to hang out- outside of the murky, muddy field. She wanted her school to look like it was cared for and loved. Mike chimed in that maybe having a garden would help the field. He said, "gardens need a lot of water!" He proposed that we install the garden where the water comes down, this way we could water the garden less and save the field.

Jesse, told me his best friend was a vegitarian. He says he worries about her because she doesn't eat lunch on chicken nugget day. He knows her familiy doesn't have a lot of money and she doesn't eat much at home either. He said having a salad bar would mean that his best friend eats something everyday.

The whole team at Jovial Concepts was moved by the sincerity and good will of the Kyffin students. We cannot wait to break ground on their garden. We currently have the layout, location picked, school district and city approval, and the cinder block beds ordered. We hope to have the garden and irrigation system installed by Mother's day (in the exact place Mike reccomended).

The same students will be speaking this week to Jefferson County Food Action Policy Team about their project. They will be presenting in front of the Mayor, City officials, Government Employees, and those who make the deciscions on school lunch regulations. We couldn't be more proud of this 100% student run garden initiative.