Grant helps establish Jasper Elementary School garden ‘Helpful Harvest’
Out of over 1,200 entries from across the United States and Canada, the Whole Kids Foundation has awarded Jasper Elementary School a $3,000 Whole Kids Garden Grant for 2024.
The foundation, founded in 2011 by Whole Foods Market, is committed to enhancing children’s health and wellness through improved nutrition. The Edible Education program offers vital resources to foster educational gardens in schools.
This grant empowers Jasper Elementary to transform its outdoor space into an engaging, hands-on learning environment. It will connect students with nature, ignite their curiosity, and enhance the classroom curriculum.
Upon receiving the grant, Jasper Elementary was delighted to find a plaque and a wealth of resources in the delivery package, including ready-made lesson plans. These materials will guide teachers in integrating the garden into their lesson plans. One teacher is already using the garden to teach area and perimeter to her students.
Beyond academics, the garden also supports social-emotional development. Featuring an infinity walking path, the garden serves as a calming refuge. Students feeling overwhelmed can now visit the garden with school social workers, where activities like weeding provide a constructive outlet. This natural setting helps students open up more readily about their experiences. Staff also benefit from time spent in the garden, which provides a refreshing break and promotes well-being.
Jasper Elementary will sustain and enrich the garden in collaboration with the Purdue Extension Office. The Extension Office will assist with educational programming, allowing initiatives like SuperFood Heroes to incorporate produce from the garden into their lessons.
Looking ahead, the school aims to establish a Garden Club, which would involve students in maintaining the garden and harvesting produce. They also envision a farmstand, inspiring students to share their bounty with the community or partnering with Community Chew to donate fresh produce to local families.
Jasper Elementary School is excited to embark on this journey of growth and learning, thanks to the Whole Kids Garden Grant. The school community is eager to see the garden flourish as a hub of education, wellness, and community engagement. With the support of the Whole Kids Foundation, LAN Construction, donations from the
community, the Purdue Extension Office, and the enthusiastic participation of students and staff, Jasper Elementary is cultivating a brighter, healthier future for its students and the community.
