Utah Associated Garden Clubs

Utah Associated Garden Clubs Dragons Sow Seeds of Learning in Holladay

By Geoff Ellis, Past President of the Utah Associated Garden Clubs

For almost a decade, the students at Howard R. Driggs Elementary in Holladay, Utah have had the opportunity to learn hands-on what nature is about and where our food comes from. The Driggs Dragons Junior Garden Club was the brainchild of Connie MacKay, a retired teacher and former president of the Utah Associated Garden Clubs. She has a passion for gardening and loves working with children. Inspired by materials from the National Garden Clubs, she tried to start a children’s gardening program at an elementary school on the west side of the valley.

When that attempt didn’t turn out as well as hoped, Connie approached her friend Alison Jueschke at Driggs Elementary. Miss Jueschke teaches third grade there and is known for beautifying her classroom and other areas of the school with her carefully tended houseplants. With the support of the principal, she and Connie established an after-school gardening club open to children in grades 3-5. The club meets once a month and is limited to 25 students, which allows them to do an intensive program in which each student can participate fully.

The gardening program began in the courtyard at Driggs, where the students pulled weeds and planted snapdragons, black-eyed Susans, spring bulbs, and pumpkins. A highlight of the program was when National Garden Club President Sandy Robinson came to visit in the spring of 2017. A special reception was prepared for her, with tea and cookies. Ms. Robinson was absolutely charming and thoroughly enjoyed meeting the students, to whom she read excerpts of “The Frightened Frog,” a book written to introduce children to environmental concerns.

Unfortunately, the courtyard garden was destroyed when the school was remodeled a few years ago. The Driggs Dragon gardeners have persevered, however, and now plant and harvest eight grow boxes at the nearby Refugee Garden in Holladay. They have been supported by donations of material and time by the PTA, the Neighborhood Garden Club, Red Butte Garden, and Millcreek Gardens. In addition to the garden club, the entire school has been invited to plant something in the garden boxes.

Timing is a challenge for gardening with students. The school year is almost the opposite of the growing season. In November the junior gardeners learn about dried seeds and autumn leaves. In December they make Christmas wreaths from evergreen boughs. January and February bring birdseed feeders and plant cuttings, then in March and April the children learn about birds and amphibians. Finally, May brings a difficult but important lesson in planning for the future, as they plant the seeds for crops that they will not see until they come back to school at the next grade level in fall.

Harvest is the most exciting time of the year! The children are delighted to explore the garden and discover pumpkins, tomatoes, sunflower seeds, and beans in their pods. Students exclaim things like, “Look, there’ s an apple!” as they discover familiar foods that they had previously seen only on grocery store shelves. The gardening program helps teach them about science, art, history, and ecological life cycles. “The seed is to get people involved and caring about the garden,” says Miss Jueschke. “It makes them better physically, mentally, and emotionally. Kids need to see something growing.”