Educate
Sowing the seeds of environmental education is as important to The Valley Gardener as is cultivating the gardens, themselves. Since 2010, The Valley Gardener has partnered with area schools and organizations to create educational plans and programs that introduce students to nature, and encourage them to get their hands dirty.
Together, we have grown edible garden plots and added organic produce to school lunch menus. This hands-on-learning has inspired countless kids to eat healthier and to become responsible environmental stewards.
Mill Road Garden Classroom
Our work in this area began with the building of the garden education programs at the Red Hook Central School District in Red Hook, NY, in 2010. These programs have since grown, under the leadership of the school district and countless volunteers, to serve all students from elementary grades through high-school. They are considered a model in the region.
Roosevelt Garden
This garden nourished the Roosevelt family from FDR's earliest days and, once restored, can do the same for 21st Century visitors to the site. Our partner, the Roosevelt-Vanderbilt Conservancy, is supporting the project with funding and a rich table of outreach activities and is working hard to raise support so that the project can reach its full potential. Noted food writer and sustainable food activist, Alice Waters, has joined the Conservancy to help advance the Roosevelt garden project.
Woodstock Day School
Beginning in 2019, The Valley Gardener began working in the Woodstock Day School garden to develop curriculum and broaden the garden program’s reach. With the help of faculty and students, the outdoor classroom now provides carefully designed lessons to the nursery school through high school, integrating the school’s curriculum with gardening and sustainably grown food.