Salad & Grow Table Student Action Project
Final Report
MAEOE Mini-Grant Program
April 30, 2022
A new environmental-learning station with Salad and Grow Tables was installed in Spring 2022 by our student-driven Green Team, parents, and teachers at Kensington Parkwood Elementary School. Thanks to the generous funding award from the MAEOE Student Actions Mini-Grant Program and our KP PTA we are grateful to build this project.
The scope of the project includes:
- Installation of Salad and Grow Tables and structures for environmental learning
- Ability to teach Science and Sustainability as students grow salad greens, vegetables, and herbs
- Provide equal and inclusive access for all students
Before & After Pics
The deliverables of the project include:
- Constructing improved Salad and Grow Station by installing 5 new grow containers to provide a total of ~72sf of growing area with efficient irrigation and drainage
- Planting salad seeds (20 seed packets of black-seeded simpson lettuce, snap peas, micro greens, and mixed variety greens) with all 2nd Graders (~100 students) while learning about the parts of the plant, plant life cycles, photosynthesis, and community gardening.
- Gaining gardening instruction and experience building salad and grow stations, planting herbs, vegetables, and flowering annuals with our student-driven Green Team (~10 5th-grade students)
- Discussing farm-to-table concepts of local & sustainable food production and the positive impact this has on our community and environment
- Engaging Autism program (~15 students) in sensory play and outdoor discovery in an inclusive and accessible learning space
- Estimating food production of approximately 5-10 lbs. of salad greens (based on UMd Extension's Harvesting Plants Grown in Salad TablesTM) at an estimated store value of $120- $240 (based on $.75/oz) per 8-week grow period. Planted week of April 25 and expected salad harvest and party week of June 13.
This project was completed on-time and at the proposed budget of $2,500.
Landscaping fabric was installed and the containers were arranged.
To improve positive drainage and promote accessible walkways, 5 tons of gravel and small steps were added.
Growing Media was added to containers.
Irrigation System was designed and assembled.
Classroom Lessons
Planting Salad Seeds
Green Team Students in 5th Gr. teaching Salad Science to 2nd Gr.
Salad and Grow Tables with Sensory Herb Containers
For More Information, Contact Scott Lynch at [email protected]