Jackson Free Press

Surrounded by brick and mortar in Casey Elementary is an organic oasis. As I approach the garden, an army of ants enters and leaves its bed only to disappear into the long, green grass. Wind blows through the middle of the garden, swaying the new sprouts growing in eight organic beds.

"Casey is a creative arts school, and we are always looking for ways to integrate hands-on activities and arts into the academics whenever we can," says Leslie Coleman, principal of Casey Elementary School. That constant search is what led the school to create a community organic garden. With the aid of Rainbow Co-op, school administrators discovered a creative, effective method to get children active and excited about learning.

"When all stakeholders are involved, it provides a better education for our children, so we seek out expertise in the community that can be used to help educate our children," Coleman says.

Coleman is getting help from parents and the surrounding community because she believes that the education of students is improved when teachers, parents and concerned citizens form a coalition to provide students with the best options and advantages available. Coleman's goal with the organic garden is to provide the students with opportunities and life lessons that they otherwise would not have. The idea of the organic garden came from one of Coleman's former students, educator Serenity Albright. When Albright proposed the plan to Leslie Coleman and Quincy Jackson, community outreach coordinator of Rainbow Co-op, the three came together to implement the best idea that would complement the objectives of the school and would be most beneficial to the students.

"I wanted to bring something a little more refreshing to the area that could be sustainable, and something that the kids and the parents could enjoy during the summer," Jackson says. "Also, we want to make this the first of many community gardens that Rainbow will participate in."

The three chose to plant an organic garden because of the need to teach the students about a healthier lifestyle. "Organic foods are not touched by chemicals and are much healthier for our children," Coleman says.

Because obesity is such a grave issue in Mississippi, they are hoping the garden will promote healthier options. Jackson says on Saturday, June 7, the students planted tomatoes, green beans, peas, pumpkins, herbs and decorative gourds. Jackson also has plans for the students to plant corn. But, health is not the sole purpose of the garden.

Sustainability is a pivotal aspect of the project. Both Casey Elementary and Rainbow Co-op want the garden to be a networking project between students and parents. Through their involvement and interaction, the community can make the garden a success. The school also plans to incorporate the garden into language, science, math and visual arts lessons, to acknowledge and nurture the myriad of intelligences and learning styles of their students.

The garden is also a beautification process for the city that Jackson hopes will spread to other communities. Students and parents will beautify the hedges on the front of the property at Casey and do other landscaping at the school, providing a scenic atmosphere for the Jackson community to enjoy. "Jackson is a beautiful city, and it should be recognized for its beauty," Jackson says.

Coleman says approximately 30 students and their parents participated in the unveiling of the organic garden June 7. The students will come to the garden every Thursday for picnics and arts-and-crafts activities. Every two weeks students and their parents will also be in charge of maintaining the garden, while the school custodian, James Kirsh, has volunteered to provide any extra assistance needed.

On June 12, at the first Thursday meeting, some seeds had already starting sprouting giving students tangible evidence of their hard work and determination. Jackson hopes that the community organic garden will be the first of many in Jackson, providing a resource to educate the community of the significance of the body and the earth.

The community is encouraged to picnic and partake in an activity in the garden on Thursdays at 11 a.m. after signing up at Casey Elementary School.

For more information, call Quincy Jackson at 601-366-1602.