Little gardeners learn about soil, plants and food Little gardeners learn about soil, plants and food (May 20, 2005)

Classroom to yield potatoes and lettuce soon

By Michele Leung

It's not quite coming up roses at Huff Elementary School, but there are plenty of squashes, tubers and fruit to cheer about.

For the first time at the school, the arrival of spring means that junior gardeners are flexing their green thumbs and learning that food doesn't always come readily cut and packaged at the grocery store. Under the supervision of parent volunteers, the students are devoting one lunch period a week to the school's organic fruit and vegetable garden club. Soon enough, the newly built redwood planters will be bearing potatoes, strawberries and lettuce.

"They're learning where food comes from and seeing something start from a seed to something they can harvest," said Anne Bradford, one of the two parent volunteers who run the class.

Third grader Mia Montanez has found out that gardening is a hobby requiring patience.

"It's really hard work," she said. "I actually wanted to do something more fun with my time than just run around at recess."

Seeing the fruits of her labor is very satisfying for Mia. Already eyeing a gardening stint at a summer camp, she has a favorite she'd like to see take root at the school.

"Orange trees -- that would be fun," she said.

The school's PTA donated funds to have the garden renovated in a small plot next to the school library. Bradford, wishing to foster an appreciation for gardening in the kids, hopes the hour-long class can serve as an informal setting for hands-on lessons about the environment, nutrition, and of course, bugs and pests.

"Right now, we're dealing with snails and slugs," Bradford said, explaining how the creatures seem to be having their way with the lettuce leaves.

The current garden is a restored version of one that has been in disrepair for several years. When Bradford brought up the idea of having a school garden, she said the school administration jumped on board, thinking that a new garden would be an improvement over what was there at the time. Covered with weeds and chemically-treated planters, the garden was put back in working order.

The gardening activities are currently open only to second-, third- and fourth-graders at the school, and Bradford, knowing that the prospect of getting dirty and being outdoors would appeal to many, could take on only a third of the students who signed up. Due to the popularity of the garden class, Bradford hopes to soon expand the program to include more crops and kids later on.

"The children enjoy it a lot," she said.

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