SCRANTON — Kristen Novak pointed to the small yellow flowers on the plant, as her students held their garden trowels steady.
“This will become a tomato,” she told the George Bancroft Elementary School first graders as they planted a garden their families will help harvest this summer.
Khloe Afanador skipped using her trowel and went in with her hands.
“I love getting my hands dirty,” the 7-year-old said as she put the tomato plant in the freshly turned soil.
With classes ending next week, students from the Albright Avenue school used this year’s lessons to plant a garden that will provide an education — and nourishment — all summer. Families volunteered to help weed and water the garden and can take the produce home.
“I hope they’re learning that healthy food can grow right in your backyard, or in your school garden. It can be a community effort,” said Novak, who helped plan the garden with fellow first grade teacher April Butler. “I’m hoping we have a lot of positive interaction here. We need kindness. A garden will bring people together in that way.”
The Everhart Museum donated the raised garden beds for the project, and several businesses and community groups provided other supplies. Students grew many of the plants from seeds in classrooms this spring.
Some first graders dug into a compost bin, separating worms from the soil they created, while other students spread dirt and dug holes for tomatoes, zucchini, yellow squash, peppers and herbs.
Jacob Medina, 7, wore plastic gloves as he sorted dirt from scraps of paper and food waste.
“They help with the soil,” he said as he held worms in his hands. “It will help the plants grow.”
A few fourth graders taught the first graders about water conservation and showed them the rain barrel that will collect water.
“You can save water for gardening,” Amina Tajak, 9, explained.
The fourth graders painted their handprints on the barrel.
“We need to conserve water for the Earth to be well,” Tammy Vasconez, 10, said.
Luis Suarez, 7, said he looked forward to eating zucchini, as he placed the plant in the soil.
“A plant has stages,” he explained. “Flowers will turn into fruits.”
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