   Work on the land is an introduction both to nature and to civilization and gives a limitless field for scientific and historic studies. If the produce can be used commercially this brings in the fundamental mechanism of society, that of production and exchange, on which economic life is based. This means that there is an opportunity to learn both academically and through actual experience what are the elements of social life. Maria Montessori From Childhood to Adolescence 68 In Arbor Montessori middle school's gardening program, not only are students learning about plant biology, genetics, photosynthesis, oxygen and carbon cycles, chemistry, and nutrition, they are also learning about the history of agricultural civilization, food production and distribution, and are familiarizing themselves with their local community. All of these elements are brought together because the students participate in the very systems that they are studying.
In March, the Arbor Montessori middle school garden was featured in the Georgia Organics 12th Annual Conference and Trade Show in their Farm to School tour. Our students led the tour of our garden, wowing the visitors with their knowledge, enthusiasm, and presence. The garden contains a thriving apiary which forms the basis of two occupations each year, provides honey and beeswax to our micoreconomy, and greatly increases the pollination of our fruits, vegetables, and flowers. Our students have presented at the Atlanta Beekeepers Association as expert beekeepers and are participating in The Great Sunflower Project, an online bee research project that involves our students in real and meaningful scientific inquiry, data collection, and data analysis.Arbor Montessori middle school is proud to announce that we are joining the Atlanta Community Food Bank's Plant a Row for the Hungry program and have dedicated two garden beds to planting sweet potatoes, onions, and garlic in an effort to fight local hunger. Arbor’s middle school program is responsible for inspiring a number of neighbors to join us in our attempts at urban gardening. In collaborated with our neighbors, we cleared the long patch of weeds and kudzu, turning it into a beautiful garden. Some of the garden was set aside for the middle school program and the rest has become a community garden made up of neighbors who want a garden but either don’t have land or would rather garden with a neighbor.On May 15th, our students attended the Farm to School Hearings with the U.S. Senators Saxby Chambliss and Tom Harken held at the CDC. The hearing ended with the two senators engaging Arbor Montessori students in a question and answer session. |