Franklin Park Conservatory’s 2024 Growing to Green Harvest Awards have recognized the Salem Garden Collaborative at Salem Elementary School as the Community Collaboration Project of the Year. Columbus City School said that the award honors the school’s endeavor to involve the community in educational projects by means of a practical gardening program.
Since its launch in the fall of 2023, the collaborative has quickly grown to play a significant role in the local educational scene by including community and family involvement. Columbus City Schools was informed by Farm to Table Coordinator Katie Young that “this project is amazing because it’s been done, built, and maintained by Salem’s community, students, and parents.” Overcoming administrative obstacles, they raised a lot of money and secured district approvals and support, which cemented the project’s start and eventual success. You won’t find the dedication shown in Salem on any ordinary school campus.
Technical assistance from Franklin Park Conservatory’s Growing to Green Program and assistance from other local organizations, such as the CCS Farm to School program, served as the foundation for this community endeavor. Greenscapes Landscaping designed the area with the intention of creating a garden and a gathering place, further enhancing the curriculum at the school.
According to Diana Morawetz, a community member, “having the garden [at Salem] is exciting, it’s a place where the kids can learn about gardening, food, and nature,” as reported in the Columbus City Schools article. In addition to integrating the garden into science, nutrition, and art classes, the project has engaged more than 80 students and 12 parents in leisure gardening. By integrating practical knowledge with daily schoolwork and weaving together theoretical understanding and practical application, educators have grabbed the chance to expand learning beyond the four walls of the classroom.
Several activities that invite neighbors to participate in garden tours, produce tastings, and student-made art shows are examples of community engagement that takes place outside of schools. With the common ground literally brimming with growing life, these pathways promote a more cohesive communal fabric. “I feel honored to have brought this to the community,” parent and organizer of the Salem Garden Collective Stephanie Wheeler said to Columbus City Schools.
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