Gourds Gone Wild!

Talk about having a green thumb! Art students at Polly Ryon middle school planted, cared for, and harvested Birdhouse Gourds which they then creatively transformed into functional birdhouses.

As a result of carefully following certain agricultural practices, these students were able to creatively express themselves through their own unique art pieces while still contributing positively to the environment around them!

"Students don't often get their hands dirty and grow things... the students are LOVING to see how things are growing and changing." - Leah Stevens

Growing Their Education

Thanks to the LEAF-funded grant, Leah Stevens was able to give almost 160 art students the exact tools they needed to transform the outside world into their classroom!

The opportunity to learn in the real world is like no other. Learning about the things that make up your environment in such a hands-on, interactive way is not an opportunity that many people get! But with her LEAF-funded grant, Leah Stevens ensured that not only her art students, but all the art students to come each year, would be able to benefit from such a wonderful experience.

Overall, the project fostered a sense of ownership, teamwork, and connection to nature amongst the students. They were also able to support local bird populations through the creation of sustainable habitats!

This project will impact students for years to come. As the garden matures, students will be able to see the impact of their work year after year!

The Process

The students were able to practice sustainable food production and see the fruits of their labor!

They started by planting gourd seeds indoors using seed-starting pods and grow lights to initiate early germination. Then, as the seedlings developed, the students worked to ensure optimal growing conditions by cultivating the soil. After the indoor seedlings were ready for transplanting, the students moved them outdoors. Throughout the rest of the semester, the students carefully attended to their plants through regular watering, observation, and care, gaining hands-on experience in both horticulture and environmental stewardship!

The growing and harvesting process is long! New students will be able to continue the old students' work and keep the process going, phase by phase. Overall, the project is multi-level, interactive process that will continue to engage students with the outside world.

A special thank you to our donor community for making grants like this possible!  If you would like to invest in public education and support our mission, please email our office at leaf@lcisd.org.