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Madden Elementary Learning Garden provides peaceful area for students, staff; devoted long-time volunteer has maintained it since its creation

Fort Bend ISD (October 29, 2024) – The Madden Elementary School Learning Garden is full of plants, fruits and vegetables that provide a pleasant peaceful break area for students and teachers alike and since its inception, maintaining the space has been a labor of love for long-time volunteer Nicole Shen.
 
The garden was created in 2016 and Shen has been there since day one.

She said for some students the garden provides a novel nature space they may not have access to at home. Teachers often utilize it as a Zen space where they can take their students for brain breaks or to enjoy a snack.
 
The implementation of school gardens has increased in recent years because of the physical, mental and academic benefits they offer. Shen can attest to that both as a gardener and as a mom.

“My son has ADHD and the learning garden has always been a safe space for him to feel calm on challenging days,” she said. “Research shows when children can connect to nature, even if it is having a window in their classroom, they perform better academically, can focus better and are less stressed and more emotionally regulated.”

Madden Elementary also utilizes the space for celebrations and events, which was not in the scope of the original project. 

“I love watching our staff enjoy the garden for breaks and teacher appreciation events,” Shen said.

The space has six galvanized raised bed containers, one for each grade level; benches that were installed during the pandemic to accomodate social distancing; and a covered outdoor classroom.
Each container has a theme to increase interest in the garden. 

“They may come to see the Pokemon container, but leave learning something about plants,” Shen said.

Students are exposed to a wide variety of plants in the garden. Among them are fruits and vegetables that reinforce the district’s initiative to use fresh local produce, plus unique succulents and flowering plants that attract bees and butterflies.

Shen currently serves as the learning garden committee co-chair. She and co-chair Lauren Allaire are planning more enhancements for the space.

“Our main goal this year is to add arches for climbing plants that will add to the learning garden experience,” she said. “Walking under trellises of beans and gourds sounds magical.” 

They are also exploring irrigation options.

Many FBISD campuses have outdoor learning gardens. The district’s School Health Advisory Committee (SHAC), specifically the Nutrition Subcommittee, provides support to campuses with gardens as part of their mission to provide healthy school environments for students, staff and community members and to teach and promote wellness through healthy lifestyles. 

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