Maple Grove Charter School Students Plan a Garden

We might be still dodging snow, but a public charter school in Maple Grove is thinking spring in a big way.

Students from the Minnesota Excellence in Learning Academy are planning a garden as part of a partnership with a nonprofit called GROW. The project’s goal is to increase student interest in science and maybe vegetables too.

“Gardens are really important because children by second grade have already formed their eating habits,” says Jamie O’Neill, executive director of GROW. “To get [kids] in elementary school and get them involved in planting and harvesting vegetables is important.”

GROW is a nonprofit with a mission of connecting students to healthy food and nature through school gardens and farm experiences. GROW supports seven school gardens in Wisconsin and Minnesota.

“From the ground up, [students] are going to be a part of it. They are designing the garden,” said Danielle Fields, an administrator with the school. “Our gardens serve two purposes. One for science and learning and the other piece is to offer an outdoor classroom and learning space.”

Fields says the total cost to plant and sustain the garden is $15,000. So far the school has raised $2,000.

Maple Grove