Setting An Example for Future Environmental Efforts: An Educational and Community Project At Holt Middle School Fayetteville, AR.

In 2010 teachers established an experiential learning program at Holt Middle School in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Their students helped create a community garden project that exposed their suburban sixth and seventh graders to more diverse plants than bermudagrass and tall fescue. While a community garden may not seem revolutionary, this particular garden project introduced a new kind of curriculum involving the community, engaging students in the garden work, and contributing their produce to the school cafeteria. Many of these children had no previous opportunities to consider where their food came from or learn about environmental stewardship. The garden also connects students with the forces of nature and facilitates learning about nutrition. Holt Middle School accommodates more than 500 students. With such a large student population and a limited number of adult volunteers, it is difficult to expand the community garden. The University of Arkansas’ Crop, Soil, and Environmental Sciences Club members will assist Holt Middle School by volunteering regularly to help educate the students about how working with nature can produce nutritious food. Our goals are to help students install their own greenhouse, expand the composting operation, establish and maintain a zone of riparian vegetation, and teach them about sustainable agriculture. The club plans to meet once a week with the students to successfully maintain the projects and make as much progress on this year’s goals as possible. The overall goal is to teach the basics of “ecofriendly” habits to increase the students’ knowledge about sustainability and good stewardship. The long-term impact of this project can be significant in establishing the concept of wise use of renewable resources and producing food while improving the environment.