Thank you to all those who helped out with the 3rd graders and their spring planting at the Emery Memorial Children's Garden!
Check out our recent photos from planting day - 2012 Spring planting.
What do we do?
We are a cross-cultural school gardening initiative. We are currently working with a school in Newfield, New York, and another school in Simenya, Kenya.
Newfield 3rd graders are in charge of a garden that is proudly displayed in front of their school. The children plant the garden in the spring, take care of it, and help to harvest vegetables in the fall. Summer camp groups also come into the garden for lessons and activities during the summer.
Simenya primary school children have been given a piece of property close to their school to work with. The children plow the land, plant the seeds, and harvest the crops. The food harvested from the garden also helps to support a school lunch program which is headed by the mothers in the community.
With computers and the internet...there can be communication! With the help of the Newfield School District, we have installed computers and set up internet in Simenya. Now, these two very different groups of children can communicate and learn from one another.
Goals
We aim to increase:
Cultural Understanding-
Understanding and interacting with different cultures is a key skill for surviving in the world today. Cross-cultural interactions can help promote peace and understanding among peoples with very different customs and routines. By interacting over the common ground of food and eating, these youth will learn communication skills that will follow them through life.
Agricultural Literacy-
The project will improve knowledge and experience with agriculture, while introducing a greater variety of foods in the children’s diets.
Want to help?
Buy a basket to help support our garden in Kenya.
Donate money to help support both gardens.
Like to garden? Volunteer your time to help us on planting day.
Have a related skill? Teach a lesson to our little workers!
Really intrigued? Become a member! We are always looking for new and creative people to help us make our project even better.
Partners
We have several ongoing connections with organizations in Western Kenya including Nairobi University, Umande Trust, Ugunja Community Resource Centre, Child-to-Child Network and the Indiana-Kenya Medical School Partnership. We are currently recruiting interested people and organizations in Tompkins County. Although we are a relatively new organization, we are fully confident that we can accomplish our important goals.
Contact Us
Growing Hope Together, Inc.
Laura Smith, Director
310 Vankirk Rd.
Newfield, NY 14867
(607) 351-2552
Laura@growinghopetogether.org