Staff photo by Clay Schuldt Back row, left to right, Brandan Savoy, Claire Beranek, Avery Menk, Elizabeth Pearson, Megan Beranek, Aidan Hendrickson, Nevaeh Ubl, Jocelyn Pettersen, Chloe Stueber, Maddie Burke, Graham Wilkins, Edwin Hendrickson, Emma Miller Middle row, left to right, Michael Hames, August Radloff, Evelyn Nosbush, Grace Henn, Emma Beranek, Elissa Ries, Hannah Coudran, Lily Mathiowetz, Isabelle Miller, Collin Verzalik, Madelyn Merkel and Spencer Drill Front row, left to right, Paige Berg, Himilaya Harrison, Elizabeth Miller and Britta Berg

NEW ULM — About 325 students are reaping the rewards of a gardening project underway at Jefferson Elementary School.

All winter, the students were planning, identifying and researching the herbs and vegetables that would grow the best in the garden. The students came up with the idea for the garden in January, and it was planted in May.

Beth Sletta, a STEM teacher at Jefferson and summer garden volunteer, has been helping to lead the gardening project for the students.

“This project is actually the brainchild of several third-grade students,” said Sletta. “It was not something that was on my radar as the STEM educator at all, and there was no budget for this kind of project. However, these students were quite persuasive in their pleas to start a garden at school.”

All third and fourth-grade students will have hands-on learning experience from Sletta relating to this project. All first and second-grade students will have varied opportunities to learn from this project depending on what focus each homeroom teacher would like to explore with the students.

During the spring, the students worked on the garden during STEM classes and after school with volunteers to build and plant the garden. The students planted and cared for seedlings in a greenhouse inside during the spring.

“Students are so excited to work in the garden and are thrilled to try new foods because they have grown these foods,” said Sletta. “I hope that students who have had the opportunity to work in the garden will feel more inclined to try growing their own food now or in the future.” A student helping in the garden said “It’s neat that we can eat the vegetables that we planted.”

Sletta invites guest speakers to visit the classes to share ideas for using produce from the garden as healthy snacks and how to use produce and herbs at home in meals.

“Students are also willing to try different foods grown in the garden due to their connection to the garden,” said Sletta. “I have had parents contact me asking how to start a simple home garden plot or container garden on a patio or deck. That is really exciting and encouraging.”

Youth members with the Kids Connection have been working this summer to take care of the garden. One student said, “it is actually fun doing the weeding in the garden.”

“Our garden has been producing very well,” said Sletta. “Students have harvested a variety of produce including strawberries, cherry tomatoes, oodles of basil, broccoli, scallions, cilantro and summer squash.”

The Statewide Health Improvement Partnership, a collaboration of Brown, Nicollet, Le Sueur and Waseca counties, provided some of the funding for this project, along with in-kind contributions from other sources. The Minnesota State Horticultural Society’s garden-in-a-box program, the University of Minnesota Monarch lab and a partnership with Kids Connection for volunteer help during the summer months also contributed to the success of the garden. Advisors for the garden have been Brooke and John Knisley of Alternative Roots Farm.

“Students had to work quickly to raise funds, find volunteers, and gather supplies,” said Sletta. “It was a short timeline, but the garden team worked hard to make it happen.”

“We have carrots, tomatoes, and beans to look forward to harvesting,” said Sletta. “The produce during the summer months is enjoyed by the young people at Kids’ Connection as well as student gardeners who come during the week to help in the garden. We have harvested and cleaned bags full of basil which were sent home with recipes.”

Once school starts in the fall, the Jefferson students will take over again working in the garden. They will help with harvesting more of the garden vegetables and herbs.

“Many students visit the garden while on walks with their families or bike rides with friends,” said Sletta. “Daycare providers stop by as well as neighbors living close to school. I receive messages from kids via email telling me I need to check on a certain plant or raised bed. The students know that this is their garden and they are proud of their work and rightfully so.”

“The students’ enthusiasm for the garden is contagious,” Sletta said. “This garden is here to stay. In fact, students and staff have wondered about expanding this fall or next spring so there would be space for more squash, melons and pumpkins.”