Ginn Academy Science Club Notes
On Tuesday, October 15, 2013, the Ginn Academy Science Club visited three separate urban farms in Cleveland: Stanard Farm in Hough, Ohio City Farm on the Near West Side, and Kinsman Farm in the Kinsman neighborhood. The trip was coordinated by Jacqueline Kowalski, Ohio State University Agricultural Extension Educator, who has been working with Ginn Academy over the past year, teaching students about native plants and crops. The purpose of the trip was to allow students to prepare themselves to design the Ginn Academy Community Garden, a service-learning project they will implement in the upcoming year through the generous funding provided by the State Farm Youth Advisory Board.
At Stanard Farm in Hough, students had the opportunity to tour the farm and ask questions of the site coordinator. Students were impressed with the organization of the farm and the use of raised beds for growing crops. They asked about crop types and if crops could be grown throughout the winter since the coordinator told them the farm employed people year round through the use of hoop gardening. Ryan Williams, ninth grader, was impressed by the fact “that the little flower houses hold in heat.” Another student remarked that he learned “that you have to cover lettuce and other vegetables in the winter.” The students had an opportunity to sample some fresh produce—mustard greens, kale, edible flowers, and Jalapeno peppers, if they were brave enough. They were able to cool their mouths with fresh apples afterward. Darren Gregory, a sophomore, remarked, “One thing I learned is there is a lot of fruits and veggies, and not to eat a Mexican pepper!”
The Ohio City Farm was a bit different from Stanard. Several different groups farmed the land: refugees, CMHA apartment building residents, and private farmers. From the site coordinator, we learned that crops were harvested and sold to local restaurants and breweries; some were also used for personal consumption by the farmers themselves. Shawndell Young, a freshman, remarked of his experience afterwards, “I was more interested in gardening.” Stephen Brady said, “I learned that you can keep crops alive by picking them,” and then they continued growing. Another student noted that organic farming is relevant, and “that it can be dangerous to put poison on plants.” The observations students made and responses to their questions caused these Science Club members to reflect on specific issues related to the environment.
Our visit to the Kinsman Farm was a very practical one—we did not have a site coordinator—students had the opportunity to use tools and to harvest crops directly, which they promptly boxed and brought back to their school to be used by Ms. Jackson, our HealthCorps coordinator, with her Men’s Chef Club after school. Rashee Reed, a second year Science Club member, harvested carrots with others. He realized that “it takes a lot of work to maintain a garden.” Of his experience at the end of the visit at three urban farms, freshman Maleek Nickelson, commented: “I liked it because I didn’t know a lot about plants and crops—that it takes a lot of doing to make them grow.”
Devon Boyd summarized his experience overall: “I thought that all of the urban farms were amazing. Everything was fresh and well organized. For a first time experience, I was quite impressed.”
Currently, the Science Club members have begun a design plan for their urban garden. They are also renovating the school vivarium by making it into a science learning lab, complete with native and tropical plants, bedded crops, and small animals, such as turtles, fish, and birds.
The purpose of the Ginn Academy Science Club is to promote learning in the areas of life sciences, English, media, and health and wellness. Visit http://www.theginnacademy.blogspot.com/ for more information about activities at Ginn Academy.
Adrienne Khan is the library media specialist and Science Club moderator at Ginn Academy.
Adrienne Khan
I am a library media specialist at Ginn Academy and the moderator of the Science Club.