Sharing Plants, Growing Gardens, and Shaping Minds!

Seedling plants were delivered by Matthew of the Environmental Youth Alliance and given to families and students to help them kick start their own gardens this spring.

Teaching about gardens in elementary schools continues to gain momentum. Did you know that over 2/3 of Vancouver School Board schools have a garden? The VSB recognizes that importance of school food gardens in education and has a School Food Garden Policy:  http://www.vsb.bc.ca/district-policy/io-garden-policy

The VSB also is participating in a 5 year project with UBC called:  Think&EatGreen@School.  The project is looking at all aspects of school food systems including the growing of food, the food that we purchase, school nutrition school garden design, making curriculum connections and much more. We encourage you to visit their website to see what resources are available on school gardens  http://thinkeatgreen.ca/

Best Wishes to Rebecca of EYA

Students recited a poem to Rebecca from the Environmental Youth Alliance. She is a wonderful educator-volunteer at A.R. Lord and has taught students about seeds, plantings, gardens and sustainability! 
We wish her all the best with her pregnancy and the upcoming delivery!  Thank you Rebecca!

Making Seed Balls with the Environmental Youth Alliance

You Need:   Clay, Flower Seeds, Soil

To Make:  Take a small amount of Clay and flatten to a 5cm disc.  Add a scoop of soil (~5ml). Add a Scoop of Seeds (~2ml).  fold up sides and roll into a ball.

To Plant:  Put into your garden.  Water and leave it.  The clay will soon dissolve and your seeds will sprout and grow.

Pacific Beauty Mix Calendula seeds were used in our seed balls.  The petals are edible and the flowers are beautiful!

Celebrate Earth Day!

Planting Potatoes in the Classroom

Dr. A.R. Lord students continue to learn about gardening, seeds and plants from the Environmental Youth Alliance volunteers and educators.  Whole potatoes with "eyes" were put into planter buckets a few weeks ago and are now starting to sprout.  Students will continue to take care of the container garden plants over the next couple of months.

Many consider learning about food production and gardening a basic life skill.  Gardening is for country and city folk alike.  Gardens can be created in even the smallest of spaces in container, small backyard plots, mini greenhouses, rooftop gardens and of course community gardens within the neighbourhood. 

Spring Gardening with Environmental Youth Alliance

Now that Spring is just around the corner, there are many gardening and environmental projects and lessons going on throughout the school.  Volunteers,  Rebecca and Josh from The Environmental Youth Alliance came to work on the school garden with young A.R. Lord students in the beginning of March.  They demonstrated what materials can be used for compost (such as food scraps) and which ones don't break down (such as styrofoam and plastics).  The children also put vegetable seedlings into the planter boxes and learned how to take care of the community garden.  

Weekly Environmental Youth Alliance Visit to learn about Trees

Learning about Trees

A recent visit from the Environmental Youth Alliance was an opportunity for kids to learn about the importance of trees and nature in our city.

Matthew, is an educational leader with Treekeepers a 2020 Greenest City program.  Students participated in activities including: counting trees, drawing different leaves and a fun game of tree tag!  Matthew will be visiting the school on Thursdays for the next month.

http://www.eya.ca/treekeepers-youth-branch.html

School Garden Work Party - Getting Dirty!

Fresh rich soil was laid down in the school garden beds on the South West side of the school last week.  A team of students, parents, teachers and community volunteers from the Environmental Youth Alliance pitched in at the after school event.   

These garden beds will be used by both A.R. Lord students and the East Side Alternative High School youth.  It is an opportunity to teach them about gardening, seeds, planting, sustainability and food first hand. Lessons will also be delivered by educators during their regular lessons throughout the year!  

Thank You to all Volunteers!