“It feels really good to be back on campus and caring for the garden — it makes my heart happy, and it feels like home.” – Arianne

At Oak Grove School, our garden program offers first, second, and third graders the chance to get immersed in our school garden, learning about every aspect of plant care. The program is overseen by our Gardening Teacher and OGS alumna, Arianne, whose return to our campus has been somewhat of a homecoming. “It feels really good to be back on campus and caring for the garden — it makes my heart happy, and it feels like home,” she says.

Arianne joined Oak Grove last year to help manage the school garden. “I was here for a year clearing up and creating pathways, identifying and getting to know all the plants and observing the campus,” she says. “Then during the spring semester, second grade started coming, so my time became both garden care and teaching time, and I just loved it so much.”

This year, Arianne officially took on the role of Gardening Teacher, running a weekly gardening program for first, second, and third graders. The students learn about planting, mulching, pruning, harvesting, and even using what they grow for projects like making pickles or herbal salves.

“Last year’s second graders planted onions, which we cured over the summer, and this year’s second graders pickled them,” Arianne explains. “We also dry herbs, infuse them in oil, and make salves. And the kids harvest and collect lemon balm, which we eat fresh and make tea out of.”

The overarching philosophy of the garden program is to teach students about the complete life cycle of plants.

The overarching philosophy of the garden program is to teach students about the complete life cycle of plants. “We plant seeds, care for the plants, harvest them, and create something meaningful, all within this space,” Arianne says. She also encourages students to think about what they can give to a plant and what the plant, in turn, can give to them by looking at their beneficial properties.

In addition to planting and harvesting, students also learn about propagation, discovering how new plants can grow from seeds, cuttings, and even from different environments like water or soil. “This week, we planted potatoes and collected leaves from across campus to use for mulching,” Arianne explains. “It’s a full-circle gardening concept: plant, tend, and harvest.”

Arianne’s gardening lessons provide students with practical knowledge and a chance to connect with their natural environment, offering them an immersive learning experience working with plants.

Photos & Video: 2nd Graders Busy in the Garden