Community garden passes valuable skills to new generation
Hewlett-Woodmere students are discovering methods of sustainability.
The students at Hewlett-Woodmere helped to plant a garden behind the Hewlett House at the Community Garden Learning Center. Volunteers from this school and other area schools will help to maintain the garden through the summer and harvest the vegetables when they are ready. All of the work is done under the supervision of garden advisor Bob Sympson.
The students have the opportunity to learn about gardening as well as the excitement of nurturing a seed into a finished product. The program is an effort to get students thinking about sustainability and planning ahead. It also encourages kids that may normally only spend time with their electronic devices to get out into nature.
The interest the students have in a project that might otherwise seem unenjoyable to them is a lesson to business owners. Even if a business does not offer a product or service that would necessarily target young customers, it is important to remember that they are the clients of the future. Engaging with them now is a great way to build a relationship with all community members. Look for ways to involve the business in what they are doing today. Offer to sponsor and design a newsletter for a local organization. Include photos of the flourishing garden in summer business flyers to draw attention to the cause or donate relevant promotional items like hats, spades or water bottles when they begin the project again in the spring.
This program exists because the students themselves wrote the grant proposal for the funds that made the garden possible. Once harvested, the food will be donated to local charitable groups and churches.
The students at Hewlett-Woodmere helped to plant a garden behind the Hewlett House at the Community Garden Learning Center. Volunteers from this school and other area schools will help to maintain the garden through the summer and harvest the vegetables when they are ready. All of the work is done under the supervision of garden advisor Bob Sympson.
The students have the opportunity to learn about gardening as well as the excitement of nurturing a seed into a finished product. The program is an effort to get students thinking about sustainability and planning ahead. It also encourages kids that may normally only spend time with their electronic devices to get out into nature.
The interest the students have in a project that might otherwise seem unenjoyable to them is a lesson to business owners. Even if a business does not offer a product or service that would necessarily target young customers, it is important to remember that they are the clients of the future. Engaging with them now is a great way to build a relationship with all community members. Look for ways to involve the business in what they are doing today. Offer to sponsor and design a newsletter for a local organization. Include photos of the flourishing garden in summer business flyers to draw attention to the cause or donate relevant promotional items like hats, spades or water bottles when they begin the project again in the spring.
This program exists because the students themselves wrote the grant proposal for the funds that made the garden possible. Once harvested, the food will be donated to local charitable groups and churches.