Program Details

• In Holyoke, School Sprouts Educational Gardens grow in the courtyards of six schools as part of the Connections Afterschool Program of the Holyoke Public Schools. These gardens have shared the joy of planting, harvesting, and eating fruits and vegetables with nearly one thousand youth.

• In Williamsburg, a program that started with just the kindergarten class quickly grew to include all of the classes in the Helen James and Anne T. Dunphy Schools. Teachers in the schools love the garden for its hands-on nature and integrated approach to education. Students learn about mathematical concepts without even realizing it and are enthusiastic note takers as they document the growth of their seeds into plants. Most importantly the youth are understanding and connecting to the source of their food. This program is a collaboration with Fertile Ground.

• Since 2003, Easthampton youth have transformed an acre of land outside the White Brook Middle School into a thriving outdoor classroom. Science concepts come alive in the spring and fall for sixth and seventh grade students as they explore soil formation through the study of the school compost bin and understand photosynthesis as it transforms their towering sunflowers from seed to giant and back to seed.

• The Zanetti Montessori School in Springfield, Massachusetts hosts a unique urban school garden. Since the school is surrounded by pavement, the garden design became very creative! Students in the School Sprouts Afterschool Program built 7 four foot square beds that are three feet deep and sit upon reused pallets. The gardens are incredibly bountiful and a great example to the school community that you can grow food anywhere!  See how it all got started in this informational video created by former School Sprouts Educator, Samantha Lyon.

• School Sprouts provides garden consulting services to The Jackson Street School community in Northampton, Massachusetts. We have assisted them in linking garden activities to their curriculum, organizing the garden for each grade and creating a ‘garden flow’ that guides each grade through their garden focus for the season. Here's a link to a lesson plan for an activity developed by a Jackson Street School first grade teacher and inspired by the garden.

The Treehouse Community Garden is a center for community gatherings,a resource for youth development,and most importantly a source of healthy and nutritious food for the members of the Treehouse Community in Easthampton.