Spring planting is the first phase of the program, when Plant Pathologist Chris Smart and Horticultural Scientist Steve Reiners visit each third grade class at the elementary school in the district (approximately 180 children). The students then visit Cornell University’s New York State Agricultural Experiment Station, and finally, a garden is planted at the school.
Classroom Visits
Over one or two sessions, each third-grade class learns about seeds, healthy soil, plants and agriculture. During each period, there are hands-on activities such as matching unlabeled seed with the commodity that can be produced from that seed. This inspires many questions about the seed, the difference between a fruit and a vegetable, and requirements for seed germination. Additionally, each student plants one or more seeds which are taken back to a greenhouse at the Experiment Station.
NYSAES Trip
In May, each of the classes visits the Experiment Station and learns about the research done there. The students observe how well their plants grew in the greenhouse.
Planting
Finally in the first week of June, Smart and her lab group bring the plants to the elementary school and the students plant their gardens.
