NEGAUNEE, Mich. (WZMQ) – Lakeview Elementary in Negaunee has begun a new garden to table program. Over the weekend, a group of volunteers constructed 20 garden beds for the kids at the school. With the help of Partridge Creek Farms and The Negaunee and Ishpeming Lions Club, Lakeview Elementary School has finished construction on its new garden beds.
Teachers in Negaunee got the idea after seeing Birchview Elementary in Ishpeming open up its garden last fall. One of the projects organizers, Sarah Weaver, is also a teacher at Lakeview, she says its taken a lot of work, but she’s excited to see the garden beds finished.
“Once the beds are filled with dirt, next week or the week after, the kids will be planting vegetables.” Weaver says, “And then in the fall when we start harvesting. The children will then be able to eat the vegetables they’ve grown.”
The garden to table program will allow young kids to learn more about what goes into growing the foods they eat everyday. Dan Perkins, Co-chair of Partridge Creek Farms, says it’s great to see kids find a love for gardening and cooking.
“Well children, first of all, learn that food comes from the soil and not the grocery store,” Perkins says, “kids have a natural affinity for the soil so they just jump in, they love it, this is their favorite part of school.”
Now that the beds are built, Lakeview teachers get to take over and begin working with their students in the gardens. Organizers at the school say incorporating the gardens into the kids curriculum will open all kinds of doors for hands on lessons.
“Science lessons, writing, hands-on opportunities for our kids, we have two wheelchair accessible beds as well. “Weaver says, “It’s just quite remarkable seeing everyone come together.”
Over the weekend the group completed the 20 garden beds, including two raised beds from start to finish. This summer kids will have the chance to join a school gardening club so they can see the plants grow and stay involved once the school year ends.
