Richey Elementary School principal Stephanie Armstrong said she had a chat with horticultural therapist Kathy Andrzejewski over tea about a year ago when an idea came up for the benefit of her students.
Faced with the challenge of making children more active as distance and hybrid education became more normal as the pandemic began, Armstrong took advantage of Andrzejewski’s external knowledge base and launched a two-pronged gardening program.
Students were allowed to take home garden sets, but then they also started a class garden behind the school.
“Being able to have kids outside when they’ve spent so much time in front of a screen, enjoying the outdoors and enjoying their families, that’s how things really started.”
Andrzejewski, who also works at Longwood Gardens, said gardening has many benefits, both personally and socially.
“It helps reduce stress, it helps reduce anxiety and depression, it helps kids get exercise and vitamin D while being outdoors. It teaches them how to interact with others because we have a class-level garden so they all have to work together to make this happen. “
An added perk, according to Armstrong, is that since Richie is rated a Title I school, the hard work of students benefits families who may not always get fresh produce.
“We can go from the garden to the table. This is not only an opportunity for children to be out, but it also gives us the opportunity to give our families fresh produce.”
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Student Jackson Lewiczi said he grew sunflowers, lettuce, and broccoli at home, and while this didn’t inspire a great love of vegetables – although he said he ate what he grew – there was a growing interest in seeing what might sprout next in his garden.
“It’s really calming and really fun. It’s really exciting to see how much can develop in all these days. It may be a small seed right now, but something as big as this sunflower can develop.”
Classmate Tashya Brown said it was a fun activity.
“I like the plants because they’re pretty, and I like the food because it can help animals, feed animals, and we can eat them too.”
Andrzejewski said her experience is consistent with what she sees in Longwood.
“I’m an avid gardener myself, and I know how much better I feel when I’m out digging in the dirt. I saw this when I was also working at Longwood. The kids would come over there and just be intrigued so this was a wonderful experience. “
Richey’s current plan is to continue the gardens in the future to see what future classes of Armstrong and Andrzejewski can grow.
