Teachers from all around Bloomington have a special place every year to pick up seeds, the Hilltop Gardens on IU’s Campus.

Many teachers who visit Hilltop bring their seeds back to their students and create school gardens. The first school garden was established in Roxbury, Massachusetts in the year 1891. According to The National Agricultural Library, this garden was created right after World War I to create more food for the surrounding areas after food scarcity was reported. The students planted things like squash and carrots, typically vegetables that were easier to maintain. Despite it’s original creation to stop food shortages after the war, it proved to be an impeccable way to teach students about the Earth and create gardeners. By 1906, there were 75,000 school gardens across the country.

This tradition is still maintained today. Currently there is estimated to be around 500,000 school gardens in the United States. So what are children gaining from these school gardens? In this era of heightened environmental consciousness, school gardens are emerging as transformative educational landscapes. These green oases not only cultivate vibrant ecosystems but also nurture young minds with invaluable lessons in sustainability. Through hands-on experiences, students forge a profound connection with nature, learning the intricacies of food production and the significance of responsible stewardship. As they witness the fruits of their labor sprout from seed to table, a new generation emerges, armed with the knowledge and passion to safeguard our planet’s future.

According to the AFT (American Federation of Teachers) having school gardens promotes children’s willingness to try vegetables and promotes diets with more vitamins as garden fare food can be incorporated into school lunches and snacks. They also gain better knowledge of fresh produce and nutrition as well as a greater appreciation for unfamiliar and ethnic foods.  Having a school garden also promotes some other behaviors you might not expect like: improved academics and social behavior. In Indiana there are also grants and funding opportunities that teachers can make use of to create school gardens.

Aidan Moran, a volunteer at Hilltop still remembers his time at his school garden, “learning about these things early in my childhood helped me to create my own home garden, and be aware of the environment.” Another source I spoke to, a teacher, Amanda Lawrence says that her pre-K class has their own garden and the kids really enjoy “getting dirty.” Western Governors University says tactile learning, teaching children skills by using using their hands rather than their eyes or mouths is extremely important when it comes to aiding learning. Tactile learners can often fall behind in the classroom as most instruction is done visually or orally. Having a school garden is another way to tactile learners in the classroom. Teachers at Hilltop receive sheets varying upon grade level  on how to plant their seeds.

At Hilltop, the seeds that make these school gardens are distributed for free. Sometimes helping teachers create their first gardens can be transformative. As Lawrence says, “It’s a small change, but the memories,(they) last forever for the kiddos.”