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Chariho Middle School Kid's Grow
Chariho Regional School District
Address:
455B Switch Road
Wood River Junction, RI 02894
US
Telephone: (401)364-0651
Email: dan.potts@chariho.k12.ri.us
Summer 2008
A special thanks goes out to the Southern Rhode Island Conservation District for the $1,000.00 grant to purchase needed tools and supplies as well as refreshments for those working in the garden!
Thank you, Vickie Goff of The Westerly Sun, for highlighting our Kid's Grow Garden in an article on Monday September 1, 2008.
This years summer maintenance and after school program has been a huge success! As of September 26 we have had 78 different volunteers in the garden combining for a total of 294 community service hours! This is by far the best year in regards to summer participation. Keep up the great work students, parents and members of the Chariho community.
Lindsay A. 3 hours
Alex A. 3 hours
Maddie A. 2 hours
Nicholas Br. 1 hour
Nick Bo. 4 hours
Mike Bo. 3 hours
Kaylee B. 1 hour
Brandon B. 2 hours
Taylor B. 5 hours
Breanna C. 2 hours
Coner C. 1 hour
Pibby C. 2 hours
Brittany C. 4 hours
Jesse C. 2 hours
Kelly C. 1 hour
Kathleen C. 1 hour
Linda C. 4 hours
Sterl C. 2 hours
David C. 2 hours
Brianna C. 1 hour
Nate C. 8 hours
Jane C. 1 hour
Abby D. 2 hours
Sam D. 1 hour
Kathy D. 3 hours
Kaitlin D. 5 hours
Joey E. 6 hours
Bethany E. 1 hour
Lori E. 1 hour
Rachel F. 1 hour
Gianna G. 1 hour
Andrew H. 4 hours
Andy H. 1 hour
Gabe H. 1 hour
Lucas H. 9 hours
Kaitlyn H. 1 hour
Jessica H. 5 hours
Jenna H. 1 hour
Roseanna H. 2 hours
Jacquline K. 1 hour
Neil L. 4 hours
Marisa L. 6 hours
Marti L. 8 hours
Nick L. 1 hour
Emily L. 1 hour
Lauren M. 1 hour
Patrick M. 5 hours
Keegan M. 5 hours
Hannah M. 1 hour
Debby N. 8 hours
Jen N. 6 hours
Norm N. 2 hours
Rachel N. 8 hours
Angela O. 14 hours
Carey O. 12 hours
Rebecca O. 12 hours
Michaela P. 1 hour
Dan P. 17 hours
Julia P. 7 hours
Maddie P. 7 hours
Dan R. 6 hours
Howard R. 9 hours
Kristen R. 14 hours
Laurie R. 1 hour
Nichole R. 9 hours
Zack R. 2 hour
Kurt R. 1 hour
Mattie R. 2 hours
Barbra S. 1 hour
Jill S. 1 hour
Caisse S. 1 hour
Kristina S. 1 hour
Nathan S. 1 hour
Ross S. 1 hour
Jacob T. 2 hours
Keith T. 1 hour
Elizabeth T. 2 hours
Chloe T. 2 hours
Produce donated:
Cucumbers/Summer Squash 86 lbs.
Peppers 484 lbs.
Green Beans 53 lbs.
Eggplant 216 lbs.
Tomatoes 54.5 lbs.
Watermelon 65 lbs.
Sweet Corn 21 lbs.
Pumpkins 60 lbs
2008 total 1,039.5 lbs.
1996 to 2008 total 12,109.5 lbs.
Thank you to Mr. Richard Osborne of Wyoming Hardgoods for the reduction in price of $61.20 toward the purchase of 30 large tomato cages.
Thank you John and Cindy's Harvest Acre Farms for the 98 beautiful eggplant and your commitment to our garden for the last 13 years!
What is Kid's Grow?
Kid's Grow is Chariho Middle School's award winning garden program, where students create a half acre garden every year and donate all the food produced to the Westerly WARM Shelter. The program started in 1996, with guidance from the Southern Rhode Island Conservation District and land donated by Tuckahoe Turf. It has been growing ever since. Chariho students are responsible for all aspects of the garden, from planning the layout, starting the seeds, caring for seedlings, planting the garden, maintaining the garden through the summer and harvesting the produce. Fresh produce is delivered to the Westerly WARM Shelter weekly starting in July and lasting through September. Since the conception of the program, our total donation of fresh produce is projected to exceed 11,000 pounds. Due to the student's efforts, we have received local, state, and national recognition. We have been awarded the: "WARM HEART AWARD" from the Westerly WARM Shelter, "Outstanding Farmer of the Year 1997" from the Southern Rhode Island Conservation District, the Soil and Water Conservation Society Southern New England Chapter "1999 Merit Award", and Gardener's Supply Company 1st prize 2003 Garden Crusader Award in the category of "Feeding the Hungry". Our most recent achievement was the 2007 "Children's Garden Network Service Award". We have also had the opportunity to present our program to other educators and at the 11th annual Nation Service-Learning Conference at the Providence Convention Center.
In addition to the gardening aspect of the program, Chariho Middle School students have the opportunity to explore and expand their knowledge of plants, composting, recycling, teaching, and various construction projects. Over the years several groups of students designed and taught lessons to fifth grade students about various garden related topics while other groups work on our paper recycling program which was recognized for its outstanding recycling efforts in 2003. A third group of students continues to construct raised beds and additional grow boxes. Grow boxes were first used to start our seeds in 2002 after working with Rhode Islands "Kids First" program. The wide scope of this program helps to insure participation of a variety of students with different abilities and time commitments.
The Purpose of Kid's Grow!
Our purpose is to reinforce the rich agricultural heritage of the Chariho Region, provide multiple opportunities for students to participate in community service, make curriculum connections to strengthen achievement, and to increase student's connection to the natural world.
The Goal of Kid's Grow!
The goal of Kid's Grow is to incorporate a sustainable garden in all six schools in the Chariho Regional School District. These schools will then showcase their accomplishments and challenges with other schools across the state and possibly the Nation. Working in collaboration with the Children's Garden Network, Rhode Island Center for Agricultural Promotion and Education (RICAPE), University of Rhode Island, Rhode Island Nursery and Landscape Association and local businesses, this goal will become a reality.
Summer 2007
During the summer of 2007 we had 39 different volunteers that accumulated 144 hours of service in the garden. Our produce was down from previous years do to a lack of nutrients; however we were still able to produce 141 pounds of produce. This years harvest consisted of peppers, green beans, cucumbers, summer squash, zucchini, tomatoes, and eggplant. Our total produce donations have accumulated to 11,140.9 pounds of produce since 1996.
How Can You Get Involved?
We are looking for individuals, organizations, and businesses to assist in all aspects of our year round garden program. Donations of gardening tools, supplies, manure, expertise, forming curriculum connections, help organizing a garden team for the district, volunteer recruitment or just help in the garden. If you are interested in helping support this program in any way please contact Dan Potts at dan.potts@chariho.k12.ri.us or (401) 364-0651 ex 7324.
Previous Supporters
Agway Inc. Westerly and Exeter
Clark Farms Garden Center
Earth Care Farm
Gardeners Supply Company
Hallene Farm
Hidden Valley Greenhouse
John and Cindy's Harvest Acres Farm
Manfredi Farms
McQuade's Home Center
Richmond Sand and Gravel
Shaw's Supermarket of Westerly
Sosnowski Farm
Southern Rhode Island Conservation District
South Side Community Land Trust
Staples of Westerly
Stop and Shop of Richmond
The Farmer's Daughter
The Rose Shack
Toth Family
Tuckahoe Turf
UBS of Richmond
URI CELS Extension and Outreach Center
Westerly WARM Shelter
Wyoming Hardgoods
Dan Potts
