The Power of a Classroom Garden

If every school administrator had the chance to see what I saw over the two days spent at The Manhattan School while filming our episode on The Greenhouse Classroom, there wouldn’t be a school in America without access to a garden or growing operation.

To the skeptics, the notion clearly seems overly simplistic. Yet in my observation during this time as well as every time I’ve been in a school garden learning environment, I draw the same conclusions:

• Want to improve test scores? Add a garden.
• Want to boost engagement from the students for learning? Add a garden.
• Want to see kids getting excited about school again? Add a garden.
• Want to see teachers get excited because the students are excited? Add a garden.
• Want fresh ways to teach every core subject? Add a garden.
• Want kids to actually understand and appreciate where food comes from? Add a garden.
• Want to grow a new generation of environmental stewards and urban farmers? Add a garden.
• Want an effective way to teach students about climate change? Add a garden.
• Want our next generation to actually care enough to protect the planet? Yes, add a garden.

It is all these things and more that I observed yet again that impressed me so much. Students and teachers alike at the schools we visited while filming this episode seemed to light up in their living classrooms. The big takeaway for me was the enthusiasm shared by each and every student that came into that learning environment, and the fact that it lasted the duration of time they were there. That was backed up time and again in my conversations with many of the students about what they liked about these classes. Simply put, they love coming to class.

As the father of two teenage daughters, I wish we had a learning opportunity like this in their schools. Certainly, great things are going on to promote learning in other ways in schools across America, but there should be more like I witnessed at the Manhattan School. Not only do these students (and I mean all of them from K-8^th grade) get excited about coming to the greenhouse classroom, but they choose to come back on their free-time, before school, after school, and on their lunch break. They love the environment so much that they hang out here and can’t seem to get enough. Just imagine what this is doing for fostering an environment of greatness and ambition and stewardship within this generation? How great can these kids be and where will it take them, and us as a country and planet?

Considering most kids today live with a gross deficiency to nature exposure, these green, living classrooms are exactly what our kids need and it’s what we all need since they are tomorrow’s leaders. Yet in spite of the relative simplicity to setting up a classroom conversion for even a few simple grow lights and hydroponic tables, it’s an overlooked opportunity for making some major connections to learning in non-traditional ways, while raising a very healthy and environmentally responsible generation. Whether you’re a parent of school-aged children, or just want to make a difference in helping raise an our next generation of potentially impressive leaders, I urge you to help create that learning environment in your community and schools. Just adding a garden would be a great place to start.

For more information:

Episode 401 – Greenhouse Classroom

Episode 324  – Edible Schoolyard