School Garden Sprouts

School gardens can be a great, hands-on way for kids to learn about healthy living, as well as many additional life habits and skills, ranging from teamwork to responsibility. Over the years, dozens of Blitz garden boxes have been placed at Green Bay schools. Among these is Kennedy Elementary School, which now has six Blitz boxes. Kennedy staff member Cheryl Daniels-Fisk serves as the school's garden mentor through the Green Bay Garden Blitz mentorship program, a partnership of the Blitz and Brown County Community Gardens, and, with Cheryl's guidance, the garden is thriving. Cheryl recently shared some details about her work with Kennedy's garden:

1. What does mentorship look like for you and Kennedy?

I have a bit of a different arrangement because I am mentoring other staff at my workplace, Kennedy Elementary School. We stay in touch using email and social media and share photos and tips. Staff members sign up on a weekly basis to care for the garden, and we also have a weekly work session in which anyone who is available joins us to water, weed, and discuss the care of the gardens. 

2. How do you involve students?

Because it is summer and we do not have an on-site summer school program at Kennedy, we are not able to work with students at this time. However, we are sharing photos with families via social media, and encouraging families to visit the garden together. We are growing a lot of full size and mini pumpkins this year, with the knowledge that they will mature in the fall when we can (hopefully, dependent on the state of the pandemic), allow the students to share in the experience of harvesting.  

3. How long has Kennedy had a garden?

Our garden began in 2017, with two Blitz beds. We added four more Blitz beds in 2020.

4. Why do you like mentoring?

I like mentoring because I enjoy spending time with my co-workers and I enjoy helping novice gardeners become more comfortable in the garden. It is fun to see their excitement over the first pumpkin, or taking home some basil to make pesto. Just a little support from a mentor can help a gardener to have a more successful season. For example, my reminders to fertilize will yield healthier plants, and my tips about how to knock down the Japanese beetle population just might save our zinnias! These things will help our new gardeners to feel more satisfied with their gardening experience, and more confident about trying things on their own. 

5. Why does Kennedy like to have a garden?

Kennedy staff like to have a garden because we want students to know where food comes from. We also want to teach them how to nurture living things and give them experience with that. Gardening isn't just about plants, it's about the people who enjoy them, and the experiences that are had with them, whether it be caring for the plants or enjoying ripe cherry tomatoes together. 

Thank you, Cheryl, for helping Kennedy grow!