Posted: February 1, 2021
The Penn State Extension Master Gardeners of Erie County are celebrating one very bright spot in what was an otherwise challenging year for all of us.
During October's statewide Master Gardener Awards Presentation, the organization's School Gardening Partnership with the City of Erie Public Schools was recognized as the First Place Youth Programming Project in Pennsylvania for 2020.
This program is directed towards third through fifth grade at all ten of Erie's public schools. Master Gardener volunteers lead the students through garden preparation, planting, caring for, and harvesting a wide variety of crops. Students participate at no cost and are given the knowledge and skills necessary to get their crops from seeds to their supper.
"Working side-by-side with students and seeing their reactions as they see the results of their efforts is extraordinarily rewarding," noted Frances Rosiak, the project's coordinator. "Not only have several students reported that gardening and learning about plants is their favorite part of the school day, but many have announced that they have established their own home gardens with their families. It is especially heartwarming to watch previously 'anti-veggie' eaters eagerly munching on fresh garden produce that they themselves have grown and experiencing healthy new eating opportunities."
Since 2017, Master Gardeners in this program have been partnering with Doreen Petri, Director of the Erie School District School Gardening Program, assisted by Stephanie Ciner, VISTA educator, and the ESD's administration and teaching staff. This partnership provides both educational and project supplies support to the District's ongoing School Gardening initiative that was established in 2014.
There are currently more than 30 Master Gardeners who volunteer with this program, and there are plans under development to expand this initiative to the middle school level when it is again safe to do so.
This past year saw a lot of program modifications, and unfortunately the hands-on work with the students couldn't continue as in years past. Making lemons from lemonade, the Master Gardener team continued to care for the gardens throughout the summer months and used their yields to provide over 1,500 pounds of produce to local families in need.
The Penn State Extension Master Gardeners offer a plethora of successful and worthy educational programs to youth across the state of Pennsylvania, and it is a testament to the dedication of our volunteers from Erie that this program was selected for the First Place Youth Programming Project.
For more information on the Penn State Erie Master Gardeners, please contact Maggie Tully, Master Gardener Coordinator, at mao5100@psu.edu.
