When you drive up to Learn ‘n Grow Early Childhood Education Center, the newest outdoor addition catches your eye. It’s a large community garden with multiple plots - one for each classroom. “The goal is to provide hands-on, outdoor learning that connects students with nature and instills healthy habits,” says teacher Kari Kemp-Vist. She got the idea after attending the National Children & Youth Garden Symposium conference led by the American Horticultural Society this summer; they had a couple of sessions on sensory gardening and community gardening in schools. As a nature-based preschool, “I thought this would be a great opportunity for Learn ‘n Grow,” she adds. 

She and her classroom aide, Laura Rathe, got to work planning and gathering donations to make it happen before the start of school. Most donors are friends and family members in the area happy to help out. It took them a couple of weekends to build and it didn’t take long for the students to get out there and start gardening! They weeded their plot, chose a vegetable to plant, then each got to put the seeds in the ground. They’ll water and weed their plots then enjoy the fruits of their labor! "The kids want to go out everyday and see if anything has grown yet,” Kemp-Vist says. “They are so excited to eat our veggies and take some home to share with their family. They have taken parents out to show what they have done so far. They are showing pride and joy with what they have done in the garden so far. My heart just melts watching the kids excitement, curiosity and love for being outdoors.” Classes planted spinach, beets, carrots, snap peas in their vegetable beds, and planted lemon balm, chives, and strawberry mint in the sensory bed. They've already been able to pick and enjoy cucumbers!

There are so many lessons with the addition of this garden and activity. “We are hoping they will learn the lifecycle of a plant, where food comes from, what soil needs to grow healthy plants, and how to take care of something over a period of time,” explains Heather Buskard, Early Childhood Education Director. 

“This is an opportunity to work on fine motor skills, problem solving, math skills, literacy skills, team work and it builds responsibility - all done outside in nature,” Kemp-Vist adds. “It also is a place that can be therapeutic, helping to self regulate when needed. We have one section with herbs to utilize our senses.”

This year is about picking a fall crop and trying it out. They’ll learn what they need for the soil to be healthy by the end of the year. “This will be a great springboard for the importance of worms in our soil,” Buskard says. “Hopefully teachers and students will be able to plant 2 crops in the fall and spring.

We want to extend a special thanks to everyone who made this possible! 

• Visser Construction
• Dock Master
• Hazelhoff Builders
• Tractor Supply
• Walmart
• Woodwork Specialties
• H & K Excavating
• Bonnie Sincler
• Rathe family
• Vist family