More than ten years ago, Utah State Senate member Jani Iwamoto enlisted the help of others to begin a community garden in Holladay. A large portion of this garden is dedicated to refugees in the community. Another section is dedicated to the Howard R. Driggs Elementary School. Last spring, students and teachers at Driggs began planting in the garden. For many students this was a first time connecting with gardening in the real world.
The practice helps students to investigate science core in the real world with the new SEED standards.
“This is more than just planting a seed and watching it grow; it is about learning in the classroom how virtually everything they learn can be connected to this garden,” said Jani Iwamoto. “For example, learning about water cycles in science, learning about different foods eaten by different cultures in cooking class which teaches tolerance and understanding. And having the ability to learn all these things alongside refugee families who will use their produce to nourish and support their family“
As students came back to school this year, they began visiting the garden again to see how their grade level’s garden box has grown and changed over the summer. This has been a wonderful experience for students to connect their classroom learning with the real world to apply their knowledge.