At Alta Vista School we are committed to the development of a sustainable organic garden. This garden is an outdoor learning laboratory rich with opportunities for engaging education and empowerment. Every week, each grade level has one academic block garden. The curriculum is interdisciplinary and woven with experiential content. Time spent in the garden is FUN! The students get their hands dirty as they help build, maintain and develop our garden. We learn about sustainable agriculture and urban wildlife ecology. AVS students steward the garden from seed to seedling, from plant to harvest. We learn about nutrition and practice cooking the plants we have grown from seed. We discuss local food systems and experience the joys of ‘seed to celebration.’
Students direct composting efforts through vermicomposting. Our outdoor classroom captures precious rainfall, and solar energy while nurturing a unique habitat for wildlife, pollinators and compost critters. We are growing food for our community, and encouraging healthy eating through a hands-on approach to wellness and nutrition. Our school leads by example, inspiring a generation of students to see the world through an ecological lens.
The AVS urban garden is a dynamic landscape that includes :::
Students direct composting efforts through vermicomposting. Our outdoor classroom captures precious rainfall, and solar energy while nurturing a unique habitat for wildlife, pollinators and compost critters. We are growing food for our community, and encouraging healthy eating through a hands-on approach to wellness and nutrition. Our school leads by example, inspiring a generation of students to see the world through an ecological lens.
The AVS urban garden is a dynamic landscape that includes :::
- Fruit Trees - We are a part of Friends of the Urban Forests’ Urban Orchard Program http://www.fuf.net
- Herb Spiral
- Vermicomposting - composting with worms
- Plant guilds
- Vertical Gardens - ex. potato tower and succulent wall
- Vegetables - diverse, seasonal and abundant
- Compost Pile
- Outdoor Classroom
- Pollinator Gardens