It may only be mid-February, but it’s not too soon to be thinking about green things growing. Take a leaf out of Mt. Kisco Elementary School (NY) Library’s book and work with your teachers and community to build a community garden. Working with other members of the faculty, librarian Susan Polos incorporated garden activities and information-seeking skills in accordance with the Bedford Central School District’s commitment to sustainability and wellness. All students plant, weed, mulch and harvest the vegetables, with the older students building compost piles, learning the chemistry behind gardening and exploring the cultural touch points of farming through the ages.
The Garden has been an ideal opportunity for the school to work with outside partners. Financial and hands-on support from the Bedford Garden Club and Mt. Kisco Elementary School Association, have been instrumental in realizing the vision. Other partners include Kids Growing Food/New York Agriculture in the Classroom, the Rippowam Cisqua School, Neighbors Link, as well as a memorial gift. Many businesses in Mt. Kisco have also donated to the garden.
For more information about this outdoor classroom that was years in the making, contact Mt. Kisco Elementary School Librarian, Susan Polos at spolos0882@bcsdny.org.
For the full version of the story with pictures, please visit https://www.nyla.org/max/4DCGI/cms/review.html?Action=CMS_Document&DocID=1778&MenuKey=SI
