Spring Break
OSU, PSU teach kids where food comes from
Hands-on middle school program takes place at Learning Gardens Laboratory in Southeast Portland
Makenna Bishop
Issue date: 4/13/09 Section: News
Oregon State University Extension Services and Portland State University's education program have teamed up to develop a new way to teach children about science.
The program allows sixth grade students at Lane Middle School to get out of the classroom and into a greenhouse and garden where they are taught exactly where their food comes from.
The property is 12.5 acres in southeast Portland, directly in the middle of the city. The Learning Gardens Laboratory is across the street from the middle school, making a quick commute for science class once a week.
Weston Miller, the community and urban horticulturist with the Extension Services, manages the project. While Miller doesn't work directly with the children, he can see that they love the gardening experience.
According to its homepage, the Extension Service works to engage the people of Oregon with research-based knowledge and education with the purpose of strengthening communities and economies. The program also strives to sustain natural resources and promote healthy families and individuals.
The new learning program started through PSU education department in 2006. Miller was hired on to help manage the program and to participate in the garden education.
"The property is amazing," Miller said. "It's growing plants, which is what I love to do."
He said there are many facilities provided by the Extension Services in multiple counties throughout the state. They are places with resources and the potential of teaching in a hands-on manner.
Miller said it's an opportunity to deliver OSU's research-based material on gardening to these different locations as a way to tie in the various activities already in progress with the community as a one-stop shop.
The purpose is outreach to the community with a direct education in the form of answering people's questions about food preservation or growing different foods.
Miller said that recently he has seen an influx in the community's desire to grow its own food. He said it was most likely because of the economy, and many people are using this method as an individual response. The Extension Services are in place to support these desires.
The program allows sixth grade students at Lane Middle School to get out of the classroom and into a greenhouse and garden where they are taught exactly where their food comes from.
The property is 12.5 acres in southeast Portland, directly in the middle of the city. The Learning Gardens Laboratory is across the street from the middle school, making a quick commute for science class once a week.
Weston Miller, the community and urban horticulturist with the Extension Services, manages the project. While Miller doesn't work directly with the children, he can see that they love the gardening experience.
According to its homepage, the Extension Service works to engage the people of Oregon with research-based knowledge and education with the purpose of strengthening communities and economies. The program also strives to sustain natural resources and promote healthy families and individuals.
The new learning program started through PSU education department in 2006. Miller was hired on to help manage the program and to participate in the garden education.
"The property is amazing," Miller said. "It's growing plants, which is what I love to do."
He said there are many facilities provided by the Extension Services in multiple counties throughout the state. They are places with resources and the potential of teaching in a hands-on manner.
Miller said it's an opportunity to deliver OSU's research-based material on gardening to these different locations as a way to tie in the various activities already in progress with the community as a one-stop shop.
The purpose is outreach to the community with a direct education in the form of answering people's questions about food preservation or growing different foods.
Miller said that recently he has seen an influx in the community's desire to grow its own food. He said it was most likely because of the economy, and many people are using this method as an individual response. The Extension Services are in place to support these desires.
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