How a garden based science class in a public elementary school can grow its teachers, students and community. A look into the foundations and philosophy behind garden based education, and the amazing things that can sprout from this idea.

Stephen Lush teaches a science centered, garden based education class, Scienhancement, in a public school for K-5th grade students. Students learn through growing, eating and rocking out to plants! His program uses the school garden, which consists of 26 raised beds, a greenhouse, and a newly plowed field, to enhance the science standards in a hands on, inquiry-based model. He has presented his successes at the Georgia Organics Conference as well as the Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Farm to School Conference. He also conducts teacher training workshops on how to incorporate garden-based education into the curriculum.