Waimea Country School is part of the Hawaii Island School Garden Network, whose mission it is to “help island schools build gardening and agricultural programs that will significantly contribute to the consumption of locally produced food.”
The Garden at Waimea Country School
The school garden is an outdoor classroom, fostering students’ appreciation of the natural world. Students spend time in the garden/yard daily with gardening projects integrated into the curriculum, when possible.
Students in all classes are actively engaged in the creation and maintenance of the garden. Students collect food waste daily and compost using earth machines and a worm bin. Students in all classes cultivate soil, plant, weed, water, and harvest. Students maintain the garden beds, often using plants of their choosing.
A goal of the garden program is to inspire and educate students and their families about small scale food production. Students learn where food comes from and how good it tastes when homegrown. For example, students planted uʻala (purple sweet potatoes) in the spring one year that they then harvested, cooked up, and served at the school’s back to school picnic in the fall.
The annual Spring Plant Sale is held each April to raise money for the school garden program. This year’s event is Saturday, April 15, 9:00 am – noon. Please join us!
Click here to visit Waimea Country School’s Garden Portfolio on the Kohala Center’s site.
“I love the integration of the garden and art program into the weekly schedule.” ~ WCS Parent Kristin Delgado
