On May 10th, the JLS held a party at the Jefferson Primary Center to celebrate the first anniversary of the garden planted there by the new member class of 2013. There was an incredible turnout with more than 100 people attending the event.
The JLS new member class of 2014 worked hard to design an event promoting the themes of healthy living and edible gardening. There were healthy snack stations highlighting local companies and snacks made by a nutritionist, and kids could decorate compostable peat flower pots and plant bush bean seeds in the garden. There was also a bounce house and obstacle course. In addition, each child who attended was given a goody bag to take home with information on healthy eating and gardening.
The JLS worked closely with the Jefferson Primary Center teachers and PTO throughout the process to make sure the party would be exciting to students and their families. Over the course of several months, JLS members and teachers from the school developed the plan for the event as well as ongoing correspondence relating to healthy living and gardening that will be shared with students in the coming months. The JLS also had the opportunity to assist the school in an NJEA Classroom Highlight video segment highlighting how the school was using the garden as a teaching tool.
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To make sure it continues to thrive, the JLS and its new member classes of 2013 and 2014 have donated time and materials to the garden, including soil, various kinds of seeds, and seedling pots for planting in the coming seasons.
The JLS is proud the garden has become such a great resource for the school, to teach about gardening fun and healthy living.
