Waconia Edible Classroom

The Edible Classroom is a very cool project that will be officially kicking off next Wednesday, May 6th 5:30-7:30 at Clearwater Middle School with an event titled "Take Root."

When I was in Mrs Fraser's kindergarten class in Michigan back in the 1970s, I had perfect attendance, expect for the one Friday that my parents took me out of school to spend a long weekend with my maternal grandfather helping to plant his garden. Unlike the popular books, I don't remember anything I learned in Kindergarten, but I do remember planting that garden. Grandpa's sweet corn and Grandma's canning are legendary.

They also had an orchard where he grew several varieties of cherries, apples, and pears. Grandma had strawberries and raspberries, but her grandchildren ate most of them (guilty). Nothing tastes better than food you grew yourself, and if I live to be 120, I will remember the feel of the spring sunshine, the color of the damp soil, and the smell of the apple and cherry blossoms behind their house on Beecher Road.

The Waconia Edible Classroom is a hands-on learning experience developed for the students of Waconia Public School District 110. Located on former farmland next to Clearwater Middle School, the outdoor garden will teach students about the seed-to-table progression. Students will learn about the connection between what they eat and where it comes from, with the goal of fostering environmental stewardship and transforming the school lunch program.

Mission & Principles

Waconia's efforts are based upon the Edible Schoolyard concept founded by famed chef and author, Alice Waters, of Berkeley California. The project will provide students with the oppotunity to grow vegetables for use in the classroom, as well as the school lunch program. An orchard with apples, pears, apricots, and plums will also be planted at the edible classroom.

I'm thrilled that our kids in D110 have this opportunity. The community support has been overwhelming.

Waconia Patriot article