Growing a good thing at Buffalo Ridge Elementary
Mrs. Miller’s first grade class watches closely as Garden to Chef parent volunteer, Nina Amey, shows them how to water newly planted veggies and fruits with organic plant food.
Article and photo by Elean Gersack
In the second week of school, students at Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) started digging, planting and watering. It’s all part of the Garden to Chef program created by Douglas County School District (DCSD) through a federally funded grant. BRE is one of nine DCSD schools participating in the program.
In recent weeks, teams of “BRE Super Dads,” led by Alan McQueen, spent two full days building elevated planting beds on the southeast corner of the school grounds. Each grade level (K-5) and the before and after school program (BASE), were assigned a bed. On August 16, classes met with BRE parent volunteer and former Douglas County Master Gardener, Nina Amey, to start planting.
Amey talked with students about complimentary planting – putting items like tomatoes and onions together since they are often eaten together. She also introduced students to the Marigold plant and discussed the importance of using this stinky plant to help keep dreaded aphids away.
Beds will boast tomatoes, lettuce, onions, carrots, radishes, beans, strawberries, peppers and herbs – all cared for by students using organic food with no harmful chemicals, water, weeding and lots of love. In November, students will harvest the food with the goal of creating an in-house salad bar. “Hopefully they learn that fresh, organically grown veggies taste so much better than the frozen veggies at the store,” mentioned Amey.
Third grade teacher Karrie Brester is a big proponent of the program. “The Garden to Chef program has endless possibilities by helping kids learn math skills, giving them writing topics, and hopefully, having the opportunity to learn and experience first hand healthy choices with tasting the food they grow,” said Brester.
BRE Prinicpal Ally Berggren was eager to take on the garden project. “This hands-on learning touches so many science and life skills that you can’t find online or in a book,” said Berggren.
Berggren’s long-term vision for the garden includes a hydroponics lab, green house, butterfly garden, hummingbird sanctuary, and composting area. “We’ll have a living classroom outside,” predicts Berggren.
Special thanks go out to Tagawa Nursery Center and Nick’s Garden Center in Aurora for donating the planting items and to Lowe’s of Castle Rock for donating building materials for the plant beds.
