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We believe in the power of garden-based learning to inspire joy and help build a more just and sustainable world.
We believe in the power of garden-based learning to inspire joy and help build a more just and sustainable world.
In our schools and larger community, we create spaces and experiences for children to cultivate wonder, understanding, and agency through the exploration of nature, food, community, and culture.
In our schools and larger community, we create spaces and experiences for children to cultivate wonder, understanding, and agency through the exploration of nature, food, community, and culture.
The Amherst Elementary School Garden Program is led by Jennifer Reese, Science & Social Studies Coordinator, and Leila Tunnell, Garden Educator. We partner with many people and organizations in our community, including Brookfield Farm, the UMass Stockbridge Sustainable Food & Farming Program, the UMass Amherst Nutrition Department, the Mead Art Museum and Book and Plow Farm at Amherst College, and Wheelhouse Farm Catering.
The Amherst Elementary School Garden Program is led by Jennifer Reese, Science & Social Studies Coordinator, and Leila Tunnell, Garden Educator. We partner with many people and organizations in our community, including Brookfield Farm, the UMass Stockbridge Sustainable Food & Farming Program, the UMass Amherst Nutrition Department, the Mead Art Museum and Book and Plow Farm at Amherst College, and Wheelhouse Farm Catering.
The School Garden Program provides all students in grades K-6 with year-round garden-based learning in our school garden spaces as well as in classrooms. We believe that garden-based learning should be accessible to every student, and have built our program around this value. In addition, we design our curriculum in alignment with the Massachusetts STE Frameworks. If you happened upon a garden lesson, you might see students using their hands to measure seed depth and spacing, collaborating to protect worms from harm, using chlorophyll to create art, participating in a read-aloud of Bring Me Some Apples and I'll Make You a Pie, exploring edible roots/stems/leaves/flowers, interviewing an elder about their special food memories, or brainstorming about why one set of seeds germinated and the other did not. It is hard to capture all that can be experienced through the garden! We say it is a place where one can learn "all the things."
The School Garden Program provides all students in grades K-6 with year-round garden-based learning in our school garden spaces as well as in classrooms. We believe that garden-based learning should be accessible to every student, and have built our program around this value. In addition, we design our curriculum in alignment with the Massachusetts STE Frameworks. If you happened upon a garden lesson, you might see students using their hands to measure seed depth and spacing, collaborating to protect worms from harm, using chlorophyll to create art, participating in a read-aloud of Bring Me Some Apples and I'll Make You a Pie, exploring edible roots/stems/leaves/flowers, interviewing an elder about their special food memories, or brainstorming about why one set of seeds germinated and the other did not. It is hard to capture all that can be experienced through the garden! We say it is a place where one can learn "all the things."
In partnership with the UMass Stockbridge Sustainable Food & Farming program, we offer a garden-based learning internship for undergraduates interested in gaining real world experience in public school gardens and classrooms. Sarah Berquist, SFF program director, is a key collaborator in this work. Each semester, interns bring so much to the garden program in the form of time, creativity, and energy. We are so grateful for this partnership!
In partnership with the UMass Stockbridge Sustainable Food & Farming program, we offer a garden-based learning internship for undergraduates interested in gaining real world experience in public school gardens and classrooms. Sarah Berquist, SFF program director, is a key collaborator in this work. Each semester, interns bring so much to the garden program in the form of time, creativity, and energy. We are so grateful for this partnership!
Our work has been supported by grants from the Amherst Education Foundation, the Whole Kids Foundation, and the USDA, as well as an award from Project Bread, supply donations from Wagner Wood and Gardener's Supply (formerly Hadley Garden Center), and gift funds from the Garden Club of Amherst. This support has been essential in building the program's infrastructure and curriculum. Thank you, supporters!
Our work has been supported by grants from the Amherst Education Foundation, the Whole Kids Foundation, and the USDA, as well as an award from Project Bread, supply donations from Wagner Wood and Gardener's Supply (formerly Hadley Garden Center), and gift funds from the Garden Club of Amherst. This support has been essential in building the program's infrastructure and curriculum. Thank you, supporters!
If you have questions, comments, or ideas to share, please reach out to us at reesej@arps.org and tunnelll@arps.org.
If you have questions, comments, or ideas to share, please reach out to us at reesej@arps.org and tunnelll@arps.org.
Listen to Jen and Leila speak with Dinah Mack of Mass. Farm to School about the power of garden based learning to inspire joy and help build a more just and sustainable world. (Episode 2.2, Fall 2025)
Listen to Jen and Leila speak with Dinah Mack of Mass. Farm to School about the power of garden based learning to inspire joy and help build a more just and sustainable world. (Episode 2.2, Fall 2025)
This short video from the Fall 2020 virtual Open House provides an overview of the garden program as well as views of the school garden sites.
This short video from the Fall 2020 virtual Open House provides an overview of the garden program as well as views of the school garden sites.
In November 2018, we sat down with ARPS Superintendent Michael Morris to talk about the Garden Program.
In November 2018, we sat down with ARPS Superintendent Michael Morris to talk about the Garden Program.
You can watch the video here! -->
You can watch the video here! -->
Jen & Leila
Jen & Leila
Garden Intern Reunion!
Garden Intern Reunion!
Sadie & Sarah
Sadie & Sarah
UMASS SFF Garden Program Interns 2025-26
Aeryn
Aeryn
UMASS SFF Garden Program Intern 2024-25
Sarah, Alexeya, Leah, Jen, & Claudia
Sarah, Alexeya, Leah, Jen, & Claudia
UMASS SFF Garden Program Interns 2023-24
Alexeya & Lauren
Alexeya & Lauren
UMASS SFF Garden Program Interns 2022-23
Amber, Bridge, & Nat
Amber, Bridge, & Nat
UMASS SFF Garden Program Interns 2021-22
Kyle, Leila, Jen, Lee, & Sarah
Kyle, Leila, Jen, Lee, & Sarah
UMASS SFF Garden Program Interns 2020-21
Leila, Merav, Jen, Lee, Jordan, & Sarah
Leila, Merav, Jen, Lee, Jordan, & Sarah
UMASS SFF Garden Program Interns 2019-20
Merav, Leila, Sarah, Jackie, & Jen
Merav, Leila, Sarah, Jackie, & Jen
UMASS SFF Garden Program Interns 2018-19
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