Columbine Elementary Greenhouse &
Garden to Table Program
Click here to watch Columbine featured on ABC's daytime show "The Chew"! This great clip explains how our schools food and garden program fits into BVSD's Farm to School education initiatives.
Columbine Elementary is proud to offer a model Greenhouse & Garden to Table Program for our students. Our goals are to encourage children to seek, grow, prepare and eat nourishing, delicious and sustainably grown food, empower them to make choices that have a positive influence on their personal health, family, community and surrounding environment, and create a more vibrant learning environment.
Columbine Elementary has created a Garden to Table Program in partnership with the Growe Foundation. This program includes in-ground garden preparation, spring planting, spring and fall harvesting, healthy lifestyle lessons, and curriculum guides for teachers. The Growe Foundation has created these successful programs at many schools in Boulder Valley School District and provides the materials, guidance and support for the gardening program.
The program has been a huge success at Columbine, with students, teachers, parents and school administrators expressing joy and excitement about participating in the program. Our Garden to Table Salad Day with the Spring harvests from our garden and our Fall Harvest Event have become anticipated school traditions.
In March of 2014, after five years of PTA fundraising and planning, Columbine built a 33' geodesic "Growing Dome" greenhouse to compliment our in-ground garden program and serve as a year-round growing and learning center for our students. The greenhouse is a perfect addition to the traditional Garden to Table Program since the primary growing season in this region is largely outside of the regular school year. The greenhouse enables students to partake in growing their own food throughout the school year and provides an excellent hands-on learning center for science, math, and language arts.
The Boulder Valley School District supports this pilot project as a replicable model for other schools. In May of 2014 the BVSD Superintendent awarded Columbine's Principle and two Parent Coordinators onto the "Superintenden'ts Honor Roll" in recognition of outstanding commitment and leadership for the support of BVSD students.
Columbine Elementary is proud to offer a model Greenhouse & Garden to Table Program for our students. Our goals are to encourage children to seek, grow, prepare and eat nourishing, delicious and sustainably grown food, empower them to make choices that have a positive influence on their personal health, family, community and surrounding environment, and create a more vibrant learning environment.
Columbine Elementary has created a Garden to Table Program in partnership with the Growe Foundation. This program includes in-ground garden preparation, spring planting, spring and fall harvesting, healthy lifestyle lessons, and curriculum guides for teachers. The Growe Foundation has created these successful programs at many schools in Boulder Valley School District and provides the materials, guidance and support for the gardening program.
The program has been a huge success at Columbine, with students, teachers, parents and school administrators expressing joy and excitement about participating in the program. Our Garden to Table Salad Day with the Spring harvests from our garden and our Fall Harvest Event have become anticipated school traditions.
In March of 2014, after five years of PTA fundraising and planning, Columbine built a 33' geodesic "Growing Dome" greenhouse to compliment our in-ground garden program and serve as a year-round growing and learning center for our students. The greenhouse is a perfect addition to the traditional Garden to Table Program since the primary growing season in this region is largely outside of the regular school year. The greenhouse enables students to partake in growing their own food throughout the school year and provides an excellent hands-on learning center for science, math, and language arts.
The Boulder Valley School District supports this pilot project as a replicable model for other schools. In May of 2014 the BVSD Superintendent awarded Columbine's Principle and two Parent Coordinators onto the "Superintenden'ts Honor Roll" in recognition of outstanding commitment and leadership for the support of BVSD students.
Learn more about the greenhouse and Garden to Table!
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Growe Foundation
Columbine's Garden to Table program is managed in partnership with the Growe Foundation which is a local non-profit organization that educates children about healthy eating and environmental sustainability through school and community programs. The Growe Foundation organizes Garden to Table programs in the Boulder Valley School District. Our Garden to Table program is in it's third full season and we are excited about our garden. We rely on grade level parent volunteers to help with class projects in the garden. If you are interested in volunteering, please fill in the contact form below. If you are interested in learning more about the Growe Foundation or the Garden to Table program please visit www.growefoundation.org. |
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Garden Lesson
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Clases de Jardineria
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Donate
Participating in the Growe Foundation's Garden to Table Program costs Columbine about $850 per year.
In addition, we are continuing to raise funds for greenhouse materials and maintenance costs, with a budget goal of $2,000 annually. Any monetary or in-kind donations are greatly appreciated! Donations can be dropped off at the Columbine Elementary Office, with checks made payable to Columbine Elementary PTA. Please add a note that the donation is for the Greenhouse & Garden to Table Program. Thanks for supporting hands-on learning at Columbine! |
