3 Reasons To Start A Community Garden At Your Child's Christian School

31 March 2017
 Categories: Education & Development, Blog

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If you're on the PTA or in another leadership role at a Christian school such as New Hope Christian Academy & Early Learning Center, you may be searching for projects that will make a difference for both the students and the community. Starting a community garden is a great way to accomplish this. Here are three reasons to start a community garden at your child's Christian school:

A Community Garden Promotes Strong Values

When you start a community garden at your child's school, the students, teachers, and parents join neighbors and members of the community to work together and create a thriving garden. In addition to working together, everyone who participates is able to enjoy a share of the bounty during the harvesting season. Sharing food resources with community members who may otherwise struggle to buy fresh produce promotes the kind of empathy, stewardship, and care for one's neighbor that are so important in a Christian education. In addition, creating a thriving community garden takes the kind of cooperation, commitment, and hard work that builds character.

A Community Garden Leads to More Time Spent Outdoors

In a time when it sometimes feels impossible to get kids away from their electronic devices, an activity that encourages them to spend time outdoors is always a good thing. They will get plenty of sunshine and fresh air, connect with nature in a very hands-on way, and get extra exercise all at the same time. You can encourage them to take the time to notice the details and sensations of their community gardening experience, including what it feels like to dig in the dirt, water seedlings, pull weeds, and see the results of their hard work begin to germinate and grow over time.

A Community Garden Encourages Kids to Eat Healthier

There is something about growing your own food that makes it extra appealing. For kids who usually refuse to eat their veggies, growing their own herbs, vegetables, and fruit can spark an interest in healthier eating. One way to strengthen this effect is to combine the community garden program with a few cooking lessons for the kids, where they learn simple, tasty, and nutritious recipes using the ingredients they've grown themselves. This helps them make the connection between how food is grown and the amazing potential it has to turn into delicious and nourishing meals.

By spearheading a community garden at your child's Christian school, you can ensure that your child, their classmates, and community members get to enjoy these benefits for themselves.