St. Cornelius Edible Garden is growth in your own backyard!
An edible schoolyard at St. Cornelius creates a living laboratory that encourages our children to be creative, active, curious, and adventurous. We will produce healthy, wholesome fresh vegetables to not only feed our children’s hunger but also their intellect. The St. Cornelius Edible Schoolyard will involve children in all aspects of farming the garden and preparing, serving and eating food as a means of awakening their senses and encouraging awareness and appreciation of the importance of nourishment, community and stewardship of the land. Activities in the garden engage children in hands-on lessons that connect food, faith and the environment.
Garden Mission, Goals and Objectives
The schoolyard garden will provide beauty and enable a whole new set of learning experiences. This garden incorporates so many tenets of our Faith Filled Future here at St. Cornelius: teaching children how to eat nutritious meals, illustrating stewardship of the environment through recycling and organic gardening principles, stressing the importance of breaking bread together with our family and friends at a communal table.
The garden is further proof of our commitment to excellent education; answering the changing needs and desires of our school families. An edible schoolyard is a wonderful companion program to the many great opportunities for students offered by St. Cornelius.
Children who participate in the Edible Schoolyard program will learn about the connection between their everyday food choices and the health of the community, the environment, and themselves. These lessons foster a sense of ownership and accomplishment, a sense of curiosity and wonder, an understanding of how food is planted, grown, harvested, and prepared, and life skills, including cooperative work, respect for self and others, active listening, and the ability to make healthy food choices.
The St. Cornelius Edible Schoolyard is a beautiful, vibrant addition for our entire parish community.
If you have any questions or would like to contribute time, plants, gardening supplies, or financially please contact the school office or Jen Manning.
Thank you!
Celebrating 85 years
in the Jefferson Park community.
