12.08.06 Horticulture Grant Received
Contact Person:
William A. Davila, Deputy Director,
The Children's Study Home, Springfield, MA
413-796-6021, wdavila@studyhome.org
The Children's Study Home is proud to announce a grant by Massachusetts Agricultural in the Classroom. The grant allows us to take a unique approach to working with special needs children.
The project, titled "Gardening Through the Seasons," will enable students to garden throughout the school year. The objective of this project is for students to see that gardening is not limited to the summer. With this grant we will be enabled to literally bring gardening into the classroom.
The project will begin at the beginning of the Fall 2006 school year and will run throughout the year and into our summer sessions. Overseeing this project is Becky Sevigny, who has a master's degree and teacher certification in special education. During her tenure at the school, Ms. Sevigny has taught horticulture, instituted and managed the school's outdoor gardening program, and has completed the Massachusetts Agriculture in the Classroom summer graduate course.
This project is also follows the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks standards for plant biology.
Inner city youth are often not exposed to agriculture as a part of their experience. This program can help bridge the gap and expose this population to this industry. Additionally, many of our children have special needs and benefit from the lessons of nurturing, life, development, among others found in gardening. And they will understand that the opportunities for agriculture are unlimited. In the 21st century open land is scarce, especially in urban areas; hydroponics offers an efficient and effective to grow vegetables regardless of land availability.
Approximately 30 special needs students, 13-18 years old, at our middle school and adjacent high school will be involved in this project, at our Mill Pond campus. Under the teaching and guidance of Ms. Sevigny, students will be responsible for the setup, growth, and maintenance of the plants grown.