The ABC's of gardening
In 2008, Island Grown Schools (IGS) further established itself as an effective resource in helping teachers connect their curriculum to farm- and garden-based learning. IGS worked with school and community partners to install new school gardens at the West Tisbury school, the regional high school, and Oak Bluffs school, as well as expand the garden at the charter school.
In partnership with ACE, the adult education program, IGS is offering a five-week course to Island educators in building classroom lessons around food and agriculture. The course will take place from 6:30 to 8:30 pm every Thursday from January 15 to February 12. The course fee is $125. Schoolteachers, home school instructors, and family educators are welcome. For more information, see acemv.org or call Lynne Ditchfield, 508-693-1033 ext. 240.
In the spring, gardens will be created at Edgartown, Chilmark, and Tisbury schools, so that all Island students can participate in hands-on learning about everything from soil to weather to water to the history of agriculture.
And after the vegetables are grown, IGS will connect the school food service staffs with nearby local farms to bring Island-grown foods to school cafeterias. This winter, the organization will help farmers plan what to grow specifically for the schools to further encourage a year-round market for locally-grown foods and a source of off-season income for Island farmers.
To get involved in Island Grown Schools, come to the next IGS meeting on Tuesday, March 10, at 7 pm at the Island Co-Housing Common House in West Tisbury, off Stoney Hill/Chicama Vineyards Road. For more information, contact Noli Taylor, 508-645-9557, or noli@islandgrown.org.
