Grow Some Good is partnering with 21st Century Learning Centers to introduce an after school gardening program at Wailuku Elementary School.
Students learn gardening and sustainability skills that support curriculum benchmarks in science, math, history, language arts, social studies and more. Projects so far include designing and installing new garden beds, refurbishing and planting existing beds, composting, adding a fruit tree orchard and engineering an irrigation system.
Nutrition classes are also a big part of the program. Our motto: “If they grow it, they’ll eat it.” Students who previously turned their noses up at fresh fruits and vegetables take pride in growing their own and are surprised to discover it actually tastes good too!
Several times a month, students harvest fruits and veggies and participate in a healthy recipe workshop, using garden-grown ingredients. Students have made salads and dressings, stir fry dishes, healthy snacks and, most popular – green smoothies! See recipe below.
The garden program will continue through the summer and starts again next year at Wailuku Elementary School. Mahalo to Wailuku Elementary teacher Lindsay Alexander, 21st Century Learning Centers Adah Askew and Cindy Collins, and Grow Some Good Master Gardener Terry Huth for digging into this program to improve students’ nutrition habits and inspire our next generation of farmers, scientists, teachers and chefs!
Green Smoothie Recipe (serves 15-20 in small cups):
– bunches of parsley, mint and kale (as much as you can pick!)
– one papaya (remove seeds and scoop out insides)
– 2-3 bananas
– 4 cups organic apple juice
– just a few cubes of ice (not too slushy)
Don’t forget… flowing water washing station, salad spinners, flexi cutting mats, butter knives, spoons and a blender for preparing recipes … and 15 – 20 green smoothie maniacs!
