Green Teacher Network - A Great Beginning!

Network participants experience hands-on math and science using eggs

By Megan Lambert
Tuesday Aug. 20, marked the first meeting of the Green Teacher Network, held at the 1st Ward Creative Arts Academy, the setting for the Wells Fargo Sense & Science Garden, which just might be "The Ultimate Schoolyard Garden"!  The Green Teacher Network is meant to help local teachers, administrators and public health experts to share resources and develop best practices supporting school gardens. There were more than 20 people in attendance, representing the board of education, health department, child nutrition services, and educators from Mecklenburg and Gaston Counties.

Attendees arrived to the sight of the Catawba River District's chicken tractor, with three lovely Golden Comet hens pecking contentedly inside the safety of their fenced yard. After some networking time, attendees were welcomed by Allison Nelson from the Health Promotion Division of the Mecklenburg County Health Department, Mary McCray, Chairperson of the CMS Board of Education, and Cynthia Klemmer and Edna Chirico of the Catawba River District. Edna told the story of the Catawba River District and the rationale behind using school gardens as an accessible way to teach math, science, and other curriculum. Cynthia walked the group through the design of the Catawba River District's Ultimate Schoolyard Garden exhibit, which will take place at the Southern Spring Home & Garden show, in February and March, 2014.

Darlene Petranick discusses how eggs can spark learning

The main speaker was Darlene Petranick from the North Carolina Farm Bureau, representing the Ag in the Classroom Program; Darlene is also a full time K-5 science lab educator at Lebanon Road Elementary School. Darlene let us know that the Farm Bureau doesn't just sell insurance! The NC Farm Bureau's Ag in the Classroom website is a treasure trove of information, including lesson plans for many subjects for grades K-9 and high school biology.  In addition, the website lists several grant opportunities, including the Farm Bureau's "Going Local" grants, with several $500 grants awarded in each county in North Carolina.

Darlene offered some insider advice to those applying for grants.  First, make sure that you can show a long term benefit to students from your project.  In other words, don't ask to use the award for a one-time only field trip.  Second, mind your p's and q's!  Proudly represent the teaching profession with impeccable spelling, grammar, and punctuation.  Grant applications have been denied due to poor writing skills!

First Ward Academy's uptown garden

After participating in a series of egg-cellent hands-on learning activities, using fresh eggs from the chicken tractor, attendees were treated to lunch provided by the Mecklenburg County Health Department and catered by Panera Bread.  (Everyone washed their hands before lunch!)  More networking took place at lunch, with an opportunity afterward to explore the school's garden, which was designed to be both practical and beautiful; it is truly an outdoor classroom and a celebration of all that school gardens can be.

If you were able to attend the event, please email Edna Chirico with your feedback and suggestions for future meetings.  Perhaps you want to show off your school's garden by hosting an event, or you would like to learn more about a particular topic?  If you weren't able to join us for this meeting, we look forward to welcoming you to the next Green Teacher Network Meeting!              

– Megan Lambert is a senior instructor in the College of Culinary Arts at Johnson & Wales University and a member of the team planning the Ultimate Spring Garden for the 2014 Southern Spring Home & Garden Show. She also is co-author, with gardening expert Don Rosenberg, of "The Organic Gardener's Cookbook."