The Garden at Gray's Woods
Welcome to the Gray's Woods Garden! Our kindergarten through fifth grade students use the garden as an outdoor classroom to learn about gardening, the environment, and healthy eating. The volunteeer garden committee members meet with students several times during the year, sometimes in the classroom, but mostly in the garden. Students all have an opportunity to plant a seed and learn about the life cycle of a seed.
It is a student-run garden so they help plant/transplant, weed and harvest! It is a lot of work, but we are able to make it a hands on learning experience for each and every step. The garden is also open to our Gray's Woods families; anyone can stop by in the evenings or weekends to take a peek at what is growing and even pick a ripe vegetable for a healthy snack.
We are fortunate enough to have two lighted grow carts where we plant seeds in the cool spring months. These carts can be moved classroom to classroom, and often stay in the rotunda where students are responsible for checking in on our little seedlings. Once the weather breaks and the seedlings are ready, students will transplant them to the garden. Mini lessons on composting, including our famous "worm hotel" are often taught in a special visit or in conjunction with other garden activities. Perhaps the most popular garden activity is harvest time when students enjoy the fruits of their labor! They love to make salsa, eat the juicy watermelon or enjoy a nice, ripe cantaloupe!
Ask your child(ren) what he/she planted in the garden the previous year, or what their favorite garden activity is. We are always amazed how the children tell us they don't like tomatoes, but happily gobble down the salsa they made.
If you enjoy gardening or are looking for ways to be involved with your child's school, we are always looking for volunteers in the garden!