I sincerely believe that for the child…it is not half so important to know as to feel.  If facts are the seeds that later produce knowledge and wisdom, then the emotions and the impressions of the senses are the fertile soil in which the seeds must grow.   
                                                                                                                                                    Rachel Carson, The Sense of Wonder

The Learning Gate Community School's organically grown garden offers many unique experiences that are shared by students, teachers and the surrounding community. At Learning Gate, we have taken the idea of a school with a garden and designed an interactive schoolroom within a garden.

Our Seed to Soup® Program illustrates the cycle from seed, to plant, to vegetable fruition, healthy food preparation, consumption at the Rainbow Bar and finally using the waste for composting to nourish future seed. The benefit of increased student and community health through knowledge gained about healthy food choices and organic practices are evident at our school. Teachers at several grade levels use garden activities to inform our students about local and global agriculture practices to enable our community with awareness of the impact of their consumption choices.

In the garden, the students explore the solar energy, water, plant and soil cycles on a daily basis to truly experience a living system. Our plot of fertile ground is a living ecosystem that functions as a working and ever changing model to be studied by our budding scientists. Our educators are excited to utilize this bountiful experience as they enrich the learning of our students in all curriculum areas. By investigating the many aspects of gardening and agriculture with our garden, our students benefit from knowledge in scientific methodology, math and measurement skills, and appreciation for the balance of nature. The fruits and vegetables that are seasonally harvested are enjoyed by all at the Rainbow Bar.

All grade levels participate in a spiraling curriculum that integrates all subject areas to the hands-on garden classroom. Our students are involved in every stage of the garden plan and as a result develop a personal relationship with nature. We adhere to organic gardening practices to ensure the health of the environment by keeping the soil alive so the plants not only survive, but thrive. The Learning Gate community has ownership of the garden and respect for the processes of the sun energy cycle as they get involved in the many gardening adventures.

Our garden is evolving to include the following future learning areas:

The Fruit and Vegetable Garden is a 5,000 square foot plot that enables the production of a variety of vegetables to be grown. We use companion planting and heirloom seeds to maintain a vibrant and healthy plot. We enrich the soil with compost, use rain barrels for irrigation and use worm tea for natural fertilizer.
In the Kid's Fun Garden Learning Gate Community School students are encouraged to experiment and play in an aesthetically pleasing, child friendly, garden land inspired by literature and hands-on gardening opportunities.

The Beneficial Insect Garden is a special ecosystem designed to attract beneficial insects to the garden area. These insects are essential for pollination in our garden. Our students hand pick insects that they identify as 'pests' in our garden plot and relocate them to this special habitat.

The Compost Yard is designed to house and focus on both the vermiculture and aerobic composting projects. The space is designed for students to learn the science behind the decomposition and nitrogen cycles. They are able to conduct scientific investigations to test hypothesis within this outdoor learning laboratory.

Learning Gate Community School's Seed to Soup Organic Garden is a unique feature on our natural and diverse campus. Students at all grade levels encounter a plethora of learning adventures in our garden area while learning about the balance needed in environmental systems. This is the type of learning that students and community members will remember the rest of their lives.

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