Growing Together: Cultivating Community Through School Gardens

Irma’s journey into community gardening was built on a foundation of past experiences. Her work in Tijuana, Mexico, where she helped grow family gardens and nurtured community engagement, laid the groundwork for her next innovative project.

Irma, a teacher at Washington Elementary, had a vision for more than just a garden. She imagined a space where school lessons and practical life skills would come together, engaging students and families in a holistic approach to life.

Her initiative blossomed when she discovered Marion Polk Food Share’s Community Garden Program, a discovery that connected her to a network of like-minded gardeners and educators. “It was eye-opening for me. Look, I’m not the only one,” Irma reflected, finding comfort and inspiration in the shared effort to build community through gardening. This connection was a spark, connecting Irma’s past experiences with her present ambitions.

“I was so grateful that I found the Food Share. Many pieces came together,” Irma said, her vision of intertwining school and community life gaining momentum. However, she was all too familiar with the challenges that school gardens often face, especially the challenge of maintaining continuity when primary caretakers move on. “It happens a lot. And the whole program disappears,” she noted, underscoring her commitment to creating a sustainable model that could flourish independently of any single person’s involvement.

“Seasons don’t stop; when you start it [a garden], you have to keep going. We’d tell the kids that the garden is sleeping.” Irma used the ‘sleeping garden’ metaphor to teach her students about the cycles of nature and the need for continuous care. This lesson instilled in them a respect for the value of teamwork.

The spirit of sharing extended beyond the schoolyard though, with parents actively maintaining the garden during the summer months. “I came just once over the summer.” Irma was overjoyed that the parents took complete ownership over the summer.

This spirit of active participation was further facilitated by the formation of a WhatsApp group among the parents, which became a vital tool to coordinate care and share photos of the growing garden. If a need was identified in the garden, a message would quickly gather the necessary hands and materials to address it, ensuring the space not only survived but thrived.