Introduction
The YIES Learning Garden reflects our school’s core values and beliefs by creating a space for sustaining our community with new opportunities for students to engage more deeply with their physical and social environment. This project feels particularly timely as we work to re-emerge from the difficulties of COVID-19 and remote learning formats. This garden is one way to reconnect in person stronger together. Based on a schoolwide survey, the garden was designed and sited based on feedback from faculty and staff, with support from the PTO, Ypsilanti Garden Coordinator, and consultation with Plantwise through our WCCD School and Community Habitat Grant.
Installation
In Fall 2021, several families came to YIES on a weekend morning (10/23) to prep the site. We cleared the space of weeds and a few bushes, laid cardboard and mulch, and installed a ‘Coming Soon’ sign. Then, on the day before the end of the 2021-2022 school year (June 9), we had a larger garden workday party to plant the site and gussy it up with materials gathered from community members and teachers (e.g., trellis, painted rocks, a small fence barrier). It was a lovely sight to welcome students on their last day of school the next morning.
Plan for the first year
The YIES Learning Garden leadership team established a SignUpGenius to establish a summer maintenance plan, and 4-5 families visit the garden on a weekly schedule to weed and water in the evenings. Also, YCS’s Garden Coordinator is keeping an eye on the site with regular check-ins.
Before the school year starts, we intend to share an email with teachers about the garden, the plants growing there, and their various powers as pollinators, water managers, etc. We will encourage them to engage with the site as they see fit and add artistic features.
Challenges
We kept plans for the YIES Learning Garden somewhat simple to start. Many teachers have had ideas for nature-based learning spaces, food gardens, edible forests in the nearby park, and more. We do not necessarily have the capacity at this time to expand the space or create new spaces. Additional funding, volunteer and staff time would be necessary.
In sharing updates with teachers, we would like to include standards-based curriculum they can use to engage with the space. We are looking for university students, experts, and online resources to make integration into the YIES curriculum feasible.
