Come on over to see the gorgeous vegetable garden at Riverside! Generously funded by the PTA and built by Jim Charling (grandfather of Eric), with assistance from Aaron Charling (Eric’s dad), the garden is thriving!

This garden design enables a full class to fit and work, learning all the wonders of planting seeds and seeing them grow and produce vegetables and herbs. The garden is made up of two long rows of beds on either side so that the children have space to move in between without tripping on each other.

Stay tuned for planting plans, but in the meantime, drop by to admire our plants or check out the pictures on The Riverside Reel.

Sign up at the end of the year for garden maintenance over next summer. We would love your help to keep the garden maintained over the summer months (plus get to enjoy the fruits of your labor during your time helping)!

Below find some great links about gardening and local parks to go visit:

• Gardening with Kids: How It Affects Your Child's Brain, Body and Soul by PBS/Parents

• Beginners guide to gardening with kids by Messy Motherhood
• From planning and craft-making to planting and harvesting with kids, a list by Gardener's Path
• Favorite Gardening books for kids, a list by Bright Horizons
• Gardening tips for beginners from Planet Natural, start that garden today!
• Encourage little hands to plant, water, and grow using the easiest seeds and the best methods by Earth Easy

• Why Garden with Native Wildflowers? Learn more at US Forest Service

• Learn more about Native plants from National Wild Life Federation.
• A great resource for planting to create the proper biodiversity Wild Seed Project
• Local resource at Bartlett Arboretum
• Suggestions on where to plant by Gerbert and Sons
• Garden tours by Garden Conservancy
• More tips from a local resource by Greenwich Botanical Center 
• Local community gardens at Greenwich Community Gardens

• Opportunities for kids to learn and grow through gardening, engaging their natural curiosity and wonder Gardening with Kids
• Learn more about participating in the town-wide food scrap recycling program at Waste Free Greenwich

Working in collaboration with Greenwich Parks and Recreation Department, we were able to plant over 400 new plants last year. Be sure to keep an eye out for lots of gorgeous flowers in the coming spring!  We look forward to doing the same again this year!

For more information, or to get involved, please contact Laura Luckenbach or Jenn Lacovara at riversideschoolwellness@gmail.com.