Gardening Club interest — like the plants — keeps on growing

Attached to the Advanced Biology classroom is a greenhouse. The biology classes that meet use the greenhouse for class activities and experiments; however, there was still ample room to grow more plants.

A few students were interested in growing plants that were outside the realm of what they were growing in class. So we started growing all sorts of plants–whatever captured the imagination of students. Students planted tomatoes, basil, cilantro, kale, spinach, arugula, and carrots.

This sort of thing has obvious  benefits. Students would learn about how food plants grow, as well as the importance of remaining diligent about caring for them.

The students were more excited about checking, watering, and nurturing their plants than I would have ever predicted. With all the fun and excitement that was happening in the greenhouse, and with a growing number of “friends” coming with the students to help (and then deciding to plant their own), we decided an official club should be formed.

I wanted the club to have a loose structure, so students could come and go as they needed–the only accountability they have is to their plants. If they don’t tend to their plants enough, the plants will die.

Students  often ask, “What happens if my plant dies?” I reply “You can replant it, choose something else to plant, or take a little break and plant something when you’re ready.”

This year the Middle School Gardening Club was formed to expand growing opportunities to middle school students. Students excitedly joined and now we have arugula, soybeans, cilantro, basil, and various other herbs being grown.

The greenhouse currently houses several varieties of succulents, many flowers (like calendula, geraniums, tulips, nasturtium, and lilacs), several lettuce varieties, hibiscus, grasses, hot peppers, tomatoes, potatoes, carrots, bleeding hearts, chicory, cantaloupe, a few bonsai trees, avocado, banana plant, luffa, and many others that sprout and go; as well as two aquaponics systems, a small aquarium, and a riparium.

The Middle School Gardening Club meets on Tuesdays during MS lunch. The Upper School Gardening Club meets on Wednesdays during US Lunch. If you have a student who is interested, be sure to have them stop by!