SHARE

New Canaan Parents Hope to Grow Learning Gardens

NEW CANAAN, Conn. – Growing tomatoes, flowers and carrots might be incorporated into the curriculum at New Canaan Public Schools if a group of parents is successful in getting school officials to consider the concept.

Several New Canaan parents want to bring learning gardens to the schools in the future. The parents will have an organizational meeting at 4 p.m. Wednesday at New Canaan Library to create a proposal for the learning gardens for New Canaan Public Schools.

Parent Amy Carpi is organizing the meeting. As someone who gardened while growing up, Carpi said having gardens at the schools may give kids a chance to learn outside of the classroom. She and her children John, 6, a student at South School, and Carina, 4, currently garden at their home.

“I see it as an opportunity for them to get outside and express that sense of wonder we seem to disconnect with over time,” she said. “I believe in good nutrition and schools have gardens all across the country.”

Several schools in Fairfield County have gardens. Stamford Public Schools added learning gardens last spring.

Carpi said the New Canaan group will brainstorm on the scope and purpose of the gardens, creating an outline for the proposal to the New Canaan Board of Education this fall and identifying areas that require additional research. “Gardens have showed to enhance the existing curriculum,” Carpi said. “It’s connecting education to real-life experiences in the natural world.”

The group has been invited to present a proposal to school principals once classes resume next fall.

to follow Daily Voice New Canaan and receive free news updates.

SCROLL TO NEXT ARTICLE