GETTING THEIR HANDS DIRTY

Gardening 2 Grow—the newest parent organization recognized by District 67—is overseeing the implementation of gardening into the elementary and middle school’s curriculum.

SEVERAL YEARS AGO, when Lisa Walsh’s youngest child was at Sheridan School, she co-founded a garden club for its students. It wasn’t long before the garden was producing enough vegetables that Walsh, who was also serving as the APT’s food services board member, asked the school’s lunch provider if they could incorporate the school-grown produce into its menu.

“Some of our vegetables were worked into the salad bar and others were cooked and prepared with whatever the hot options were,” Walsh says. “We then promoted to the children that they were eating food that they grew in their garden. We found that the students were much more likely to try a food that was new to them if they knew that they grew it.”

Soon, all four schools in District 67—Cherokee, Everett, Sheridan, and Deer Path Middle Schools—had gardens and it became clear to Walsh that the district needed to have some mechanism to make sure that the garden program survived the natural transitions that happen at schools where parents and students move on. In 2024, District 67 recognized the newly formed 501(c)3, Gardening 2 Grow, as one of its parent organizations. There is a representative from each of the school’s garden clubs on the Gardening 2 Grow Board.

Gardening 2 Grow’s mission is to create engaging spaces where students can actively participate in planting, tending, and harvesting a garden, which promotes a deeper understanding of nature and sustainable food practices, ultimately enhancing the wellness and well-being of students.

“We feel like collaborating with everyone interested in our project is the key to success,” Walsh says. “We have been recognized by the University of Illinois Extension Office as a member of their Master Gardener Partner Program. The Spirit of 67 has helped us every year and has given huge grants. We would never be where we are without them. We’ve partnered with Lake Forest College, so that each semester we have an intern. The Junior Garden Club of Lake Forest has helped us get off the ground. They are dedicated to education, and this is one way to get students passionate about loving nature. QUEST Food Service has been so supportive of getting our fresh produce into the cafeterias. And, of course, we owe a debt of gratitude to the school district administration and our many passionate, committed parent volunteers.”

In a post-pandemic world, schools are pushing towards more authentic and meaningful work experiences for students to combat anxiety. District 67 has invited Gardening 2 Grow to work with teachers to develop portions of the curriculum that will incorporate the gardens to enhance the classroom experience.

“Exposure to nature—we all need it,” says Gardening 2 Grow board member and Everett Garden Club’s co-founder Shelly Marks. “Gardening touches so many different parts of our lives. Physical movement, connection to Earth, health and wellness, emotional regulation and community. Not to mention Arts and Sciences.”

Marks shared that last fall, Everett School’s garden was overflowing with marigolds. She helped lead a lesson where the students would harvest the marigold seeds.

“We all sat in a circle outside with our marigolds. One little girl asked if we could play the name game while we harvested the seeds,” Marks says. “The children each went around and introduced themselves, quietly taking nice turns. It was so calming. We could see the social-emotional growth happening.”

Walsh and Marks both advocate for the lessons that come from gardening.

“The gardens provide a safe place for the children to fail,” Walsh explains. “With nature, failure is everywhere and that’s okay. When you garden, some things work, and some things don’t. You have the opportunity to fail and try again. Students learn they can nurture something and really make a difference.”

Gardening 2 Grow strives to meet the children where they are.

“It’s so much fun to be in the school with the kids because they each react so differently to the gardening process,” Marks says, reflecting on her hours volunteering with the children at Everett. “Some want to jump in and literally get their hand dirty. Others are more interested in watering and planting. Our goal in the end is that every child has the opportunity to work in these beautiful environments, to have that purposeful learning, and to carry the lessons they learn into adulthood. If we’re exposing our children to these wholesome learning experiences now, they’ll be more aware of these things as adults.”

On Saturday, May 10, Gardening 2 Grow will host its second annual Garden Market in Lake Forest’s Market Square. Each of District 67’s four schools will be represented with items from their gardens, as well as artwork and products they’ve made. All money raised will be reinvested back into District 67’s gardening initiatives.

“Embedding this program into the curriculum is part of our longevity plan,” Walsh says. “By having the schools invested in our gardens, this program will continue. We want the schools to see that our school gardens are value-added and that there is a group of capable, passionate volunteers on hand to help.”