From garden to table, Dows Lane Elementary School students experienced the rewards of growing their own food during a schoolwide Garden Soup Day on Oct. 14.
Students across the school helped chop vegetables grown in the Dows Lane garden before enjoying vegetable soup made from the harvest. The event was facilitated by PTSA Garden Coordinator Meg Tubman with support from volunteers and Garden Club Coordinator Alissa Campbell.
“It was a fabulous day for all,” Principal Andrea Kantor said. “Students were thrilled to chop vegetables and try the soup that they created from scratch!”
The experience was months in the making. Students planted seeds in the garden last spring, while PTSA volunteers and classes helped tend to the growing plants throughout the spring and summer. The garden also benefited from the district’s reinstallation of its irrigation system and recently received a Whole Kids Foundation Garden Grant to support its continued growth and programming.
Beyond Garden Soup Day, the outdoor space provides students with opportunities to extend their learning beyond the classroom. The garden is used for science lessons, art and library classes, as well as a space for students and staff to enjoy.
“It’s a remarkable outdoor learning space,” Kantor said.
The inaugural fall event also offered students a chance to see the garden’s cycle come full circle, from planting and tending vegetables to preparing and sharing the harvest with their school community. Garden Soup Day brought the Irvington Way to life as students were engaged in hands-on learning and collaborated with their school community throughout the process.
By transforming something they helped grow into a meal they could enjoy together, students experienced how learning, teamwork and care for their environment can extend well beyond the classroom.
Photos courtesy of the Irvington School District
