Growing Curiosity

Photos: Coppell ISD

AUTHORS: RACHEL FROST, Region 10 Chief Communications Officer AMANDA SIMPSON, Coppell ISD Director of Communications

LARRY THOMPSON understood the importance of being willing to pivot long before the days of COVID. After spending more than 35 years in the semiconductor industry, Thompson turned his life-long gardening hobby into a full-time job. As the Garden Coordinator for the Coppell ISD Child Nutrition School Gardens, Thompson understands that the harvest is at the mercy of the weather, the school calendar, busy educator schedules, and not to mention, lots of little hands that are learning what it takes to grow fresh produce. That means making adjustments along the way is all part of the process.

Thompson says it takes “rigid flexibility” to manage 16 active gardens across the district, which are funded through a $45,000 grant from the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA). Right now, they’re in full spring mode.

“Transplants and direct sow seeds are coming alive in the gardens. Students planted onions in January and potatoes in February, and those are starting to take over the garden space,” Thompson explained. “Other cold crops like kale, Swiss chard, cabbage and lettuce will be ready to harvest in April. Things are looking pretty tasty!”

At the end of May, when students harvest the onions and potatoes, some of the vegetables will go back to the school cafeterias for “Farm Fresh Fridays.” Thompson works with the cafeteria chefs to come up with recipes that incorporate the fresh produce into the meals that students are served in the cafeterias. Any excess is used in the Free and Reduced Lunch program or donated to the Metrocrest Services Food Pantry, which serves the CISD community.

“For some students, this will be their first time to try these different vegetables,” Thompson said. “It’s the little things, like watching the elementary students harvest vegetables like carrots, that make this work so rewarding. They are always amazed by what is underneath the soil surface.”

Thompson works closely with students, teachers, and parent volunteers to maintain the gardens. This is the third year CISD Child Nutrition has received the TDA Expanding 3Es School Garden Grant, which funds enhancements to the school gardens through the purchase of equipment, seeds, educational materials, and more. The goal of the grant is to help CISD students connect with the "3E's of Healthy Living — Education, Exercise and Eating Right."

“My ultimate goal is to teach and mentor students and teachers in the garden,” Thompson shared. “Getting to teach them things, like planting an onion (green side up!) is really rewarding. I also love getting to meet and work with our teachers - they are an amazing group!”

Thompson takes pride in his work and is continually learning and challenging his own gardening skills. However, Thompson explains that it doesn’t take a huge budget or decades of gardening experience to start a school gardening program.

“Start small,” Thompson explained. “Keep it simple and start with one bed where you can plant a little something and then expand as time and money permit. If a vegetable garden is too time consuming, plant a flower garden or a pollinator garden - something to get students learning outside in the fresh air - that’s what’s really important.”