‘Seeds of Hope’ sprouting at O.C. Johnson Elementary
Roots run deep in Yuma County, and some are sprouting at O.C. Johnson Elementary School.
The school is the new home of Yuma’s first school-community garden — a collaborative effort between O.C. Johnson, the Yuma County Health Services District, the Yuma HEAL Coalition, Arizona Health Zone and community donors.
Named “Seeds of Hope,” the garden opened Oct. 19.
“We wanted to add resources to help families grow and thrive,” O.C.
Johnson principal Angela Logan said. “We’re a community school, so why not have a community garden? Agriculture is so big in Yuma, and this is a way for the kids to see how those skills can be used in a career.”
According to Logan, the idea took root a few years ago, growing deeper and stronger with each effort to secure the donors and materials needed to bring the project to fruition. Now, garden beds are made and broccoli, cauliflower, radishes, basil, parsley and cilantro are pushing through the soil.
In the classroom, fourthand fifth-grade STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) clubbers learn from teacher Laura Rodriguez and Yuma County
Health District educator Tricia Kinnell about the different parts and growth factors of each plant, which insects are friendly to agriculture and which ones aren’t and the nutritional value of their crops.
On Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, they and their classmates involved in the after-school program get to put that knowledge to use as they tend to the garden, water the soil, check for bugs and observe the growth of their herbs and veggies.
“Everything they’re doing in the garden is connected to their classroom curriculum,” Kinnell said. “We’re hoping they’ll gather a love for gardening that they’ll share with others.”
At the end of the school year, these students will be certified Junior Master Gardeners through Texas A&M AgriLife Extension’s Junior Master Gardener program.
Eventually the younger grade levels will have their own garden beds to tend to, and the older, certified gardeners will be able to mentor them, visit their classrooms and guide them through the growing processes they’ve become so familiar with this year.
When their crops are grown and ready for harvest, the students will get to enjoy the fruits – or vegetables, rather – of their labor with some of the lunches served in the cafeteria.
“It’s making them aware of what they’re eating, where it comes from and the hard work that goes into it,” Rodriguez said.
The produce that doesn’t make it onto a cafeteria tray will go to the school’s food pantry, where students and their families can take them home to enjoy.
There’s room for the community to grow, too, as a portion of the garden is designated just for that. Anyone interested in tending to a garden bed can visit the school to sign up.
According to Logan, community gardeners are welcome to bring their own seeds as long as they’re in line with the expectations and guidelines detailed in the sign-up agreement; otherwise, seeds donated by the Yuma HEAL Coalition are available for planting.
“This is a unique thing in our community that we hope will help students and their families understand where their food comes from and, in turn, build a healthier community,” Kinnell said.