Most educators have heard about the many research studies that say school learning gardens teach students about not only general science and growing produce but also benefit them in so many other ways, including improving their sense of community.
Those benefits are probably why most of the schools in Newberg-Dundee Public Schools have a garden. For many years, Catalyst Alternative High School wanted a garden too but lacked the funding and leadership. This October, because of School Counselor Christy Crisman and her supporters, the small alternative school on Deborah Road installed two garden beds and established the Catalyst Gardening Group.
Crisman applied for an $800 grant via Oregon Women for Agriculture this May and received it in October. She provided a class through the Career and Technical Education program at Catalyst, offering opportunities for participation during the school day every Wednesday. Many students also have leaped at the chance to help out after school, as well.
“They’ve been so invested, and they took ownership,” Crisman said. “It’s their garden. I want to be there to support them.”
Senior Theia Perniciaro sees the garden exactly as research studies indicate, an opportunity that extends beyond basic science to an exercise in community building.
“It’s a good way to familiarize yourself with people you wouldn’t normally meet,” Perniciaro said.
Junior Hannah Shirts said meeting new people has been important to her too. She also joined because of warm daily memories.
“I used to help my grandparents garden when I was younger, and I wanted to get back into it,” Shirts said.
But the gardening skills are valuable, starting from what to plan and when, and then how to keep it alive. Last week, Shirts said that progress on the garden was strong, with the Catalyst Gardening Group preparing raised beds for the sprouts they’re nurturing indoors.
“So far, we haven’t had anything die and our sprouts are coming up super quick, and our garden beds are filled in,” Shirts said.
Shirts and Perniciaro both couldn’t say enough about all that Crisman has done to support the program. Perniciaro said that Crisman is energetic and kind, and is always trying to get students involved. Once they get engaged, she’s there to support them, Shirts noted.
“She’s always there by my side,” Shirts said.
Crisman has some strong supporters of her own when it comes to the garden, receiving help from CTE Coach Connie Rice, Science Teacher Jessica Spang, Language Arts Teacher Jessica Abbott, Fab Lab/Makerspace Teacher John Niebergall, Newberg First United Methodist Church volunteers Rick and Debbie Warner, who donate time, and Northwest Christian Church volunteer and retired Chehalem Valley Middle School Music Teacher David Sanders, who donated the two garden beds and two bags of soil.
There are so many others at Catalyst who offer a kind word or encouragement, and, with programs like this one, these garden supporters are having a big impact on Catalyst students.
“Catalyst is so good and is helping me finish my high school career,” Perniciaro said. “They’re helping me keep my grades up and learn skills I’ll need later in life, like gardening and, I guess, math.”
How Can I Support the Catalyst Garden Group?
- To volunteer, email Crisman at [email protected].
- To donate, use the Amazon wish list that ships directly to the school.
Do Other Schools Have Gardens?
Not every school in the School District possesses a garden. Keeping the program alive is a big undertaking involving funding for plants, soil, and garden bed boxes, as well as recruiting volunteers to water all things green and growing over the summer. However, many schools do have a garden!
- Newberg High School: NHS has a greenhouse and horticulture program, which hosts a plant sale each year.
- Mountain View Middle School: Science Exploration teacher Sophia O'Brien leads the garden program at MVMS.
- Chehalem Valley Middle School: Science and Science Exploration Teacher Carrie Carden manages the garden at CVMS.
- Crater: The school doesn’t have a garden (yet)!
- Dundee: The school does not have a vegetable garden; however, it does have a parent-led gardening club.
- Edwards: Teachers plant vegetables in several garden beds every spring, and there is always plenty of produce bursting from the soil during the sunny season.
- Ewing Young: The school doesn’t have a garden (yet)!
- Joan Austin: Kindergarten teacher Stephanie Sayles runs a thriving garden program at JA.
- Mabel Rush: MR has a garden box for each grade level, and they usually do a spring planting.