ESFDB, NMC-CREES partner for School Garden Workday Pilot Project

A school garden is a powerful environmental education tool. Through gardening, students become responsible caretakers.

Last Oct. 24, the Eskuelan San Francisco de Borja administration, teachers, parents, students, and Northern Marianas College-Cooperative Research, Extension and Education Service staff Solly Takai-Nakamura kicked off the School Garden Workday Pilot Project.

After cleaning the garden site, what are left are various types of banana trees and mango trees. In the coming weeks students will be planting various fruits and vegetables.

The mission of the School Garden Workday Pilot Project is to help Eskuelan San Francisco de Borja create, sustain, and use onsite gardens by providing resources, professional consultation, and educational programming.

“We envision a future in which school garden education helps children become healthy adults who eat their fruits and vegetables, know the basics of growing food, and contribute to a thriving community,” said administrator/principal Carmen H. Atalig.

“They (students) have an opportunity to engage in agricultural practices on a small scale, learning about the responsibilities and impacts of land cultivation. They may be able to explore the interactions among the living and nonliving players that sustain life. By doing so, they develop a greater understanding of the natural world,” added Atalig.

The partnerships between ESFDB, NMC-CREES, and the community play an important role for a gardening pilot program to flourish.

“Being part of our school gardening was rewarding because we are being educated in gardening at the same time we are getting good grades for our involvement,” said student body council public relations officer Cyrus Atalig.

Student body council treasurer Marvin Clitar said, “The pilot project will not only benefit us students but benefits our local community in so many ways.”

“For children, a garden offers the only chance to get close to nature. The School Garden Pilot Program provides students’ first opportunity to dig into the soil and watch their plant grow. By deepening children’s sense of connection with nature, school gardening can inspire environmental stewardship,” said board chair Edward Maratita, Jr.

“Also the pilot project offers hands-on, experiential learning opportunities in a wide array of academic disciplines, including the natural and social sciences, math, language arts through garden journaling, visual arts through garden design and decoration, and nutrition,” added Maratita.

The administration, faculty and staff, students, and board of directors appreciate and thank the students, parents, Edward C. Barcinas, Harry Masga, Solly Takai-Nakamura (NMC CREES) for helping Eskuelan San Francisco de Borja in cleaning and creating a spectacular learning environment through the School Garden Project. (PR)