On Monday, October 20, Disney VoluntEARS along with students, parents, and teachers from Walt Disney Elementary School in Anaheim, and representatives from the American Heart Association (AHA) gathered to prepare and build a “Teaching Garden.”
The “Teaching Garden” is a learning laboratory where students plant seeds, nurture growing plants, harvest produce, and learn the value of good eating habits. These Teaching Gardens, which have flourished throughout California, are part of an effort to fight childhood obesity and encourage healthier schools, families and communities in Orange County.
Over two dozen Disney VoluntEARS along with student volunteers, parents and teachers spent all day planting the garden. Each student at the school had an opportunity to be a part of the garden preparation and planting. Students painted rocks in their own colors and designs, and chose to paint either a ladybug, smiley face or bumblebee. The 6th graders painted tiles that will be added to a mural near the garden. The kindergarteners heard some stories about gardening and plants, and took part in some of the gardening as well.
Over a dozen herbs, fruits, and vegetables were planted. They include onion chives, broccoli, cilantro, Winterbor kale, Flat Dutch cabbage, arugula, head lettuce, stone head cabbage, garden sage, sweet basil, red lettuce, romaine, Chinese cabbage, and kumquats. It was fun to see many of the kids learn about the different plants. Disney VoluntEARS did a great job explaining how the different plants were used in foods, some of which the kids had eaten, but didn’t realize they had.
And in case you are wondering, the herbs, fruits, and vegetables planted will be used in school prepared lunches in the near future. It was definitely a great learning experience for the students, and a great way to spend a Monday in school.
At the end of the day, the school held a dedication ceremony. The principal thanked the Disney VoluntEARS, parents, students, teachers, and representatives from the American Heart Association for all of their hard work and dedication in making the Teaching Garden become a reality.
Walt Disney Elementary is the first school in Anaheim to receive a Teaching Garden from the AHA, with funding support from the Disneyland Resort. The school is one of 14 Teaching Garden schools in Orange County. Parents will work alongside teachers and students to sustain the garden for a minimum of three years with supplies provided by the Disneyland Resort.
The Teaching Garden program is part of a larger AHA “My Heart. My Life” healthy living initiative, designed to help Americans understand what it means to be healthy, and to take actions. For more information about the Teaching Gardens program and how you can participate, visit http://www.heart.org/
