Moss Haven Elementary Establishes a Farm

We sent intern Michelle Saunders out to cover the groundbreaking celebration of Moss Haven Elementary’s new farm. See her report below.

A student rubs an herb to release the fragrance on his fingers.

Last spring, while eating a salad for lunch, Kim Aman, a Moss Haven Elementary veteran of 17 years and the “Lead Weed Teacher” as her peers fondly refer to her, was surprised to find that her students had no idea what the radishes in her bowl were.  She instantly identified a need for nutrition education and the idea of creating a garden was born. “My grandfather was a farmer and he was always teaching me about vegetables,” she says. “So it’s in my blood.” Living in an urban setting, however, most of these kids don’t get that experience.” So, along with Tiffany Walker, a first-grade parent currently serving as the Outdoor Learning Environments committee chair, they brainstormed a garden, drafted a business plan in the summer, and presented it to the school board and the American Heart Association. Less than a year later, the garden is a reality. “We had a combination of right connections, passion, and community support to create the perfect recipe for growing,” Walker says.

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