M
ath classes take the summer off, but classroom gardens are a year-round responsibility. Just ask Nikki Cain, educational director for Growing Community Now, a nonprofit organization that helps facilitate school gardens along with gardening and nutritional education in Taos.
“Whatever summer camp or summer school or childcare that’s happening at the school sites — we offer to work with them and bring kids out into the garden,” said Cain, ensuring that little hands and growing minds are engaged with the educational gardens year-round. “Part of the mission of this is also to bring farm food to the school lunch table,” said Cain. “Getting the kids out in the garden — they recognize the food, taste the food — they see the food on the plate and it’s gonna get eaten.”
OPPOSITE: Kindergarteners at Enos Garcia Elementary School break open red bean pods and collect the beans inside. ABOVE: Kindergarteners at Enos Garcia Elementary School experience outdoor learning in the school garden with the help of Growing Community Now. NATHAN BURTON/TAOS NEWS
Growing Community Now works with Arroyos Del Norte Elementary School, Ranchos Elementary School and Taos Middle School. It also has developed a pathway for students to earn dual credits towards an agricultural degree at UNM–Taos, and has plans to create a high tunnel greenhouse at Taos High School. Before the COVID-19 pandemic hit in March of 2020, Growing Community Now produced a harvest festival with Taos Charter School. “We’re looking forward to having harvest festivals in the fall at various schools,” Cain said, excited to get back to normal. She also wants to hold a salsa competition, using locally grown ingredients “to highlight the special culture and cuisine that we have in New Mexico. “Hopefully get some school board members and some other folks
around town to help us judge that,” Cain said. Young students at Enos Garcia Elementary School are growing potatoes, carrots, kale, tomatoes, red beans, corn, garlic and gladiolas in their outdoor garden. The school also has a growing dome, which can allow for winter harvests. “That also expands the teacher’s classroom space,” Cain said. Growing Community Now is funded by a U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm to School grant, and by local nonprofits including The LOR Foundation, Taos Community Foundation and Los Alamos National Laboratories. It also accepts funds from private donors. For more information, visit growingcommunitynow.org BACK TO SCHOOL 2022-23
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