Community garden teaches conservation lessons

This year, we helped Playa Grande School create their own organic garden to learn more about local food systems, environmental and human health, and resource conservation.

Rising cost-of-living and changing land uses have changed consumption patterns. Most people now buy food produced far away. But community gardens are a great way to produce lettuce, basil, oregano, cilantro, scallions and other easy to grow crops to provide healthy food for local families and reduce household expenses.

Local Menu

After a visit to the La Paz School, the students of Playa Grande School were excited to start their own garden. We encouraged them to select crops that are not only suited to local ecological conditions but also part of a traditional Central American diet. Among other selections, they chose to plant basil, sunflowers, lettuce, beans and corn.

Students at Playa Grande School have learned that growing food organically can yield environmental and health benefits within the local community. The organic garden provides healthy food for students and their families without threatening fragile ecosystems.

Conservation Lessons

Working in an organic garden teaches students valuable lessons about environmental conservation. Gardening brings students in contact with nature. They learn about the food chain, the key role hummingbirds, bees and butterflies play in pollination, and how plants produce oxygen. The students see the importance of conservation on a personal level, recognizing that a productive garden requires healthy ecosystems with nutrient-rich soils, clean water and abundant pollinators.