Community Impact

"This outdoor learning classroom is amazing. I think it is a fabulous addition to our unique school that further educates our students in different ways than the norm. It also further distinguishes our school and serves as a model for other elementary schools. Thanks to everyone at MHE involved with the planning, execution and/or approval of the MHE garden for your continued hard work and dedication."

"We get a bin of organic produce every other week from a Coop that comes from a local garden. I have learned a ton from this Coop and have gotten my kids to try a lot of new fruits and veggies/food this way. When the garden came to MHE, I am glad to see this impacting eating habits at school, and I hope to see it impact exercise habits. I feel so blessed to be part of this awesome community. The garden is such a fantastic learning tool...science, physical education, health, ...so great especially for special needs kids who don't always do well just sitting in a classroom!"

"MHE had an open house last week. On the wall in the hallways were self portraits that all stated with "If I were President". One picture from a 2nd grader read like this "I would make a 10 minute break in all schools for video game time, I would make recess 30 minutes longer, and all schools would have gardens"."

 "This outdoor learning classroom is amazing. I think it is a fabulous addition to our unique school that further educates our students in different ways than the norm. It also further distinguishes our school and serves as a model for other elementary schools..."

"We get a bin of organic produce every other week from a Coop that comes from a local garden. I have learned a ton from this Coop and have gotten my kids to try a lot of new fruits and veggies/food this way. When the garden came to MHE, I am glad to see this impacting eating habits at school, and I hope to see it impact exercise habits."

"I feel so blessed to be part of this awesome community. The garden is such a fantastic learning tool...science, physical education, health, ...so great especially for special needs kids who don't always do well just sitting in a classroom!"

 "LOVE. IT! My children talk daily about the important learning that they receive from the garden curriculum." 

"I like the garden because it is fun to work outside and in nature. I also like the farm because we grow things."

"Everything is beautiful. I like that we can plant seeds instead of adults planting for us."

"I like digging. I love the bees and lettuce. I love the chickens and watering plants. I love the garden, but not fire ants."

"I like the garden because it has healthy food. The garden is where I am happy."

"Thumbs up! I like the chickens!"

"The garden is environmental and I like the garden because you get to dig and get dirty."

"I like that we donated some of the veggies to people who need it."

"The garden is where I am happy."

"Students get their hands dirty, have onsite learning experiences; put what they are learning in the classroom into real world experiences. Also for many students this is a launching pad for growing their own food and choosing healthier food to eat at home."

  "Many of our kids develop better eating habits and attitudes towards eating food (veggies especially) that they might not have otherwise considered. Some things you learn with your hands in the dirt that you just can't in any other way. Not to mention what they learn about cooperation and caring for something outside of yourself."

"It is a terrific way to tie in what we are learning in science and social studies especially, but also math and language arts as well. Some of our kids would not have the experience of growing food and taking care of living things if it weren't for our garden and the ladies who make it all happen."

"The garden has grown substantially and has provided the students and neighborhood with a variety of benefits. Students love to plant and harvest their crops, and the neighborhood loves to

help out and harvest from time to time. Students have made a connection with healthy eating and from the garden. They enjoy going out once a week and look forward to the lessons they learn."

"My science classes went out on the garden every week. The 6th graders were able to develop what they were learning in the classroom and putting it to work in the garden. This past week we have been studying taxonomy and flower reproduction. So we went out on the garden to find actual real flowers that students could take pictures of, label on their iPads and see how the diagram in their notes is seen in real time. So much better than just sitting in the classroom and looking at a flower diagram."

"The students used outdoor materials like dirt, rocks, water, grass and mulch to create their own living landform! I

love the opportunity that students have to be outside in a learning environment, where they also find opportunities to serve. They would help move much, clean out garden beds, and water plants. They could see the benefits of volunteering as well as learning."

"More kids and staff are interested in healthy ways of eating."

"So much learning for the kids and exploring. Even I learn stuff!"

"The students learn to look at others and not just themselves."

"Students seem to be less picky eaters."