N° 155 — June 21, 2023
Enjoy regular updates and insights from FONA, the U.S. National Arboretum, and our award-winning Washington Youth Garden.
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This school year, our Educator Coaching Program (ECP) partnered with teams of educators from 11 DC schools. This program is part of our larger School Garden Support Program, and offers flexible support to better integrate school gardens into curricula and day-to-day school community life. Depending on each school’s individual goals, FONA supports them by developing planting and garden maintenance plans, co-teaching lessons, organizing produce distributions, supporting events with taste tests, and more. | |
Families select vegetables to take home during a produce distribution at KIPP Webb. | |
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School gardens are great hands-on tools to teach young people about health and wellness. One of Allie Arnold’s favorite moments this spring as a School Garden Program Manager was getting to have a conversation with 3rd graders about how gardening is not only good for their physical health, but also their mental health. After Allie explained some of the benefits of touching soil, one student exclaimed, “I’m going to put my hands in the dirt so I can live longer!” While some of these students might have been hesitant to get their hands dirty before FONA’s programs, Allie noted they now ask their teacher if they can water the plants and check on the garden all the time. | |
For ECP to be effective, it takes an immense amount of organization and energy from our team to coordinate between all the schools and meet as many of their needs as possible. Our team found it particularly challenging to balance not only their own capacity, but also that of the educators they work with. Despite everyone looking forward to a well-deserved summer break, Ashley Rattanawan, a School Garden Program Manager, was excited to see some partner schools already starting to plan and grow vegetables for next school year. | |
Ashley and Allie, our School Garden Program Managers, prepare for a taste test with students. | |
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The sculpture of Demeter, the Greek goddess of the harvest and agriculture, has returned to her pedestal outside of Arbor House. This statue was created by John Cavanaugh, a 20th century sculptor based in Washington, DC who specialized in lead art. The National Capital Area Federation of Garden Clubs dedicated the sculpture in 1986 in honor of Kay Lahr, who the Lahr Symposium is named after. Kay was a dedicated Arboretum supporter.
The statue was removed about two years ago for cleaning and patina restoration. The John Cavanaugh Foundation donated their services to complete this restoration. See Demeter for yourself during your next walk through the Friendship Garden.
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Wondering what to plant in your garden this summer, but don't have a lot of time actually garden? Emilia Kawashima, our Garden Co-Manager, shares her gardening tips for keeping a low-maintenance garden over the summer. While these tips are geared towards school gardens that do not receive regular maintenance during summer break, they are also applicable to home gardens. Check out Emilia's tips so you don't miss out on flowers and vegetables during summer travel.
Read Emilia's Summer Gardening Tips >
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Poetry Slam in the Garden
August 5, 6:30 PM - 9 PM
Youth poetry competition
Details & Registration Coming Soon
Dinner Under the Stars
September 19, 5:30 PM - 9 PM
Cocktails & tented dinner in the Meadow
Purchase a Ticket or Table >
Fall Festival
September 30
Bulb sale, local vendors, family activities
Details Coming Soon!
Forest Bathing Walks
Various dates and times
Meditation and mindfulness
Upcoming Dates & Registration >
Yoga in the Grove
Saturdays at 10 AM
Find your flow with Bluebird Sky Yoga
Registration >
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