Register now for fall 2012 online courses!

101a: Planning and Organizing Sustainable Gardening Programs for Children, Youth, Adults and Communities

Looking to start a school or community-based garden program, but do not know where to begin? This course focuses on the foundations and benefits of garden-based learning, and provides the tools, resources, and collaborative support needed to plan, organize and develop a successful and sustainable gardening program that fits your organization’s needs. Using a logic model approach to program development, this course is perfect for educators, program staff, volunteers, volunteer coordinators or anyone wanting to develop a community garden, school garden, or garden-based learning program for youth, adults, or people with disabilities in their local community, school, Cooperative Extension, or afterschool program. While we will address school gardening from the context of planning, we will not focus on curriculum integration and other facets of learning activities and lesson plans. These are addressed in course 101b. For more information: http://www.cals.cornell.edu/cals/hort/teaching/distance-learning/garden-programs.cfm

Six week online Distance Learning Course offered through Moodle starting September 4, 2012. Cost: $500 per person

101b: Teaching and Learning in the School Garden: Theory into Practice

This course focuses on the foundations and teaching strategies of garden-based learning (GBL), and provides the tools and resources that classroom teachers and extension educators need to develop school gardening programs that can be integrated into the school culture and curriculum. Focusing on the foundations, benefits, and teaching strategies of garden-based learning (GBL), participants will build a toolbox of resources for developing a school gardening program that meets cross-curricular needs. Case study, research, and GBL resources are evaluated through group discussion, learning activities, and reflective journals. Educational theory will be put into practice using real-world tools, through collaboration, practicum, small and whole group discussion, lesson plan assignments, and the final portfolio project. For more information:

http://www.cals.cornell.edu/cals/hort/teaching/distance-learning/school-garden.cfm

Six week online Distance Learning Course offered through Moodle starting October 8, 2012. Cost: $500 per person

Cornell University awards 3 CEU’s for successful completion of this course.

Here are comments from our students:

“I find it very challenging and stimulating. I am very, very impressed with the wealth of resources assembled by our instructors and I am so thankful for these resources because I will be able to really delve into them when the course is over. The course is exceeding my expectations.”

“Very effective, if you're an educator. The collaboration between course participants is a particularly valuable resource.”

“Donna- you have been FABULOUS to work with. I do hope you consider teaching other online courses . . . you are quite a good instructor.”

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Back to reading and weeding

Back to reading and weeding

2011-2012 School Garden Network - Workshop I Agenda

2011-2012 School Garden Network - Workshop I

“Teaching & Learning in the School Garden”

Date: Wednesday, October 5, 2011      Time: 4:30pm-6:30pm

Place: Cornell University Cooperative Extension of Rockland County

10 Patriot Hills Drive, Stony Point, NY 10980

845-429-7085

www.rocklandcce.org    http://rocklandschoolgardener.blogspot.com/

4:30- Registration

4:45- Welcome to the School Garden Network

Cornell Garden-Based learning Resources for your School

5:00- Teaching and Learning in the School Garden:

Bring your Curriculum Alive with Inquiry from the School Garden!

Donna Alese Cooke,

Horticulture Educator, CCE Rockland

Instructor, Cornell University Department of Horticulture’s “Teaching and Learning in the School Garden: Theory into Practice” online distance learning course

Break

5:45: “Hands-on Garden-Based Learning Activities on a Budget”

Master Gardener Volunteers

6:30 Conclusion, Evaluations

Participants will engage in hands-on activities & will take home a wealth of garden-based learning resources from Cornell, including lesson plans, door prizes & more.

Limited space is available. Please RSVP to Ellen Chorpa, 845-429-7085, ext 117 

This workshop is free for teachers, parents and school staff affiliated with schools enrolled in the CCE Rockland School Garden Network.  $10 per person for participants not affiliated with a SGN school.

Please contact Cornell Cooperative Extension if you have special needs. Cornell Cooperative Extension of Rockland County provides equal program and employment opportunities.

Rockland County Master Gardeners Teach Middle School Students at the Haverstraw Community Garden in Saturday Morning Program

Rockland County Master Gardeners Teach Middle School Students at the Haverstraw Community Garden in Saturday Morning Program- by Anita Driechler and the Plant a Row for the Hungry Committee

On May 7^th: Preparing Beds & Planting Cool Weather Vegetables

About half of the garden was dedicated to planting seeds. The space was divided into about 12 beds – 2 children to a bed. The children first divided their beds and then put rocks in the separations so they could walk on it. Next they added compost to each bed and seeds were distributed (mostly lettuce, carrots, radishes). We showed them how to divide the bed into 4 rows & then create indentations for each row. We then had them read the seed packets and spread the seeds in the rows accordingly.  Students then carefully covered up the rows with soil. Finally they took turns watering their beds.

On May 21^st: Maintaining Garden Beds, Planting Warm Weather Vegetables & Basic Companion Planting

First the children learned about weeding, and then we prepared the beds in the remainder of the garden as before. Students learned about planting seedlings & how to handle & plant them (tomatoes, peppers, eggplant). We divided up the beds and had each child plant some seedlings. We also planted squash seeds and potatoes in hills and they watered the entire garden.

June 11^th: Maintaining

By now there were lots of weeds!!  The children learned to distinguish the weeds from the growing plants and weeded the beds and also learned about thinning seedlings and thinned many or the carrots they had planted in early May. Students did pick a couple of radishes, but not much at this time. Lastly, of course, we watered.

USDA Announces People's Garden School Pilot Program to Promote Garden-Based Learning Opportunities

On April 11, the USDA People's Garden grant was funded!  This is very exciting news, because our county was one of four or five in NYS who are part of this research project. Along with my Master Gardener volunteers, CCE will be  providing education to teachers in four elementary schools in Rockland County, all who will be starting new school gardens and using them to teach lessons in nutrition to their students.   For more information, click on the link below: USDA Announces People's Garden School Pilot Program to Promote Garden-Based Learning Opportunities

People's Gardens Aim to Provide Nutritious, Safe and Healthier Choices for Children and Communities

Teaching & Learning in the School Garden Course now offered online

Teaching & Learning in the School Garden: Theory into Practice focuses on the foundations and teaching strategies of garden-based learning (GBL), and offers the tools and resources that classroom teachers and extension educators need to develop school gardening programs that can easily integrate into the school curriculum.