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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
Website: http://www.chariho.k12.ri.us.com
Needs for 2011:
To meet our goal of producing 1,000 pounds of produce this year we will need the following materials:
100 tomato cages or stakes
garden twine
manure
rabbit fencing
5 watering cans
Summer 2011
Thank you Tuckahoe Turf for the half acre of land and water to the garden since 1996!
Thank you John and Cindy's Harvest Acre Farm for your continued support since 1996.
Thank you Washington County Turf for all of your help with the irrigation for the garden.
Thank you Bill and Pete Haberek for harrowing and tilling the garden with your equipment.
2011
During the summer of 2011 we had 42 different volunteers that accumulated 120 hours of service in the garden as of 8/1/11.
Amber B 1 hour
Dan P 6 hours
Julia P 5 hours
Maddie G P 5 hours
Logan A 3 hours
Elise V 5 hours
Andrew V 5 hours
Skip K 5 hours
Jacquie K 2 hours
Conner Mc 5 hours
Liz V 7 hours
Dakota M 6 hours
Jessica M 6 hours
Ashley M 2 hours
Laurie M 5 hours
Zoe G 2 hours
Lindsay C 1 hour
Colin B 5 hours
Pat B 4 hours
Hedley D 4 hours
Abra C 2 hours
Kate P 1 hour
Maddie P 1 hour
Nathan S 1 hour
Kris S 1 hour
Liz T 2 hours
Alexis F 1 hour
Jason L 1 hour
Emily L 3 hours
Ann Marie L 1 hour
Aimee L 2 hours
Josh B 2 hours
Tyler L 2 hours
Lillian T 1 hour
Meaghan Mc 1 hour
Deb Mc 1 hour
Amy B 3 hours
Emily B 3 hours
Kelly B 2 hours
Kelci M 2 hours
Nate M 1 hour
Tom U 1hour
2011 Harvest
Peppers pounds
Tomatoes pounds
Eggplant pounds
2010 Harvest
504 pounds
170 hours of community Service
1996 to 2010 total 12,683 lbs
2009 Harvest
Green Peppers 54.5 pounds
Banana Peppers 28.5 pounds
Cucumbers 19 pounds
Tomatoes 88 pounds
Eggplant 3.5 pounds
total 2009 193.5 pounds
1996 to 2009 total 12,513 lbs.
Our Kid's Grow Garden summer maintenance program.
Number of volunteers 58
Number of service hours 201
A special thanks goes out to the Southern Rhode Island Cooperative Extension for the $1,000.00 grant to purchase needed tools and supplies as well as refreshments for those working in the garden!
2008's summer maintenance
79 different volunteers in the garden combining for a total of 300 community service hours!
Produce donated 2008:
Cucumbers/Summer Squash 86 lbs.
Peppers 516 lbs.
Green Beans 53 lbs.
Eggplant 224 lbs.
Tomatoes 54.5 lbs.
Watermelon 65 lbs.
Sweet Corn 21 lbs.
Pumpkins 83 lbs.
Fall Squash 47 lbs.
2008 total 1,249.5 lbs.
1996 to 2008 total 12,319.5 lbs.
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.
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 12,000 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 the District Garden Team is to incorporate a sustainable garden in all eight 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.
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
Bill and Pete Haberek
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
Washington County Turf
Westerly WARM Shelter
Wyoming Hardgoods
Dan Potts
