These kids are seeing plants grow and produce edible things. They are exploring tastes that aren’t part of their snacking routine. They are seeing how nature works and why it is so important to themselves and the planet as a whole. – Garret Nick, Zilker Garden Club
Over the past two decades, Jabo’s Garden at Zilker Elementary has grown from a single grandparent volunteer into a thriving, parent-led initiative that sells flowers and herbs to nearby Odd Duck restaurant. We sat down with parent volunteer Garret Nick to hear more about the journey. Read on for the story, plus tips to get a garden initiative started — or restarted — on your school campus.
What’s the story behind the founding of the Zilker Elementary School garden? Why is it named “Jabo’s Garden”?
20 or so years ago, a retired UT professor named Jabo began spending time with little kiddos (and his grandchild) in the courtyard outside their class and teaching them about plants. They would do simple things and celebrate the results…. Jabo would also play his guitar and sing songs to the children. As parents learned about this they got more involved until one day they decided to raise money and build a formal garden so the garden program could expand to more kids. Whole Foods and Odd Duck made donations, professional parents donated their expertise and time, dirt was moved, irrigation buried, and “Jabo’s Garden” was officially established.
Soon after (or immediately) the school partnered with PEAS to provide weekly instruction to the kids and integrate the garden into their classroom learning. Our PEAS instructor, Mr Garland, is a prior Zilker teacher who carries on the traditions of Jabo by playing his ukulele and singing with the kids. It is the sweetest thing ever.
How did the collaboration with Odd Duck get started? What does that look like today?
Odd Duck is an amazing partner and a firm believer that kids (and adults) should have a stronger connection to their food. Along with the initial donation made years ago, they have consistently provided us with fundraising opportunities at their restaurant.
As our relationship has continued to grow, last year we began to focus on organic herbs that they can utilize in their kitchen and sometimes bring flowers they use to decorate tables. We are even officially listed on their menu as a provider of tarragon!
What other partnerships have helped your garden thrive?
Our biggest partner is our parents. We have worked to cultivate a group of volunteers that meet up each Thursday morning to work in the garden while the PEAS program is taking place. This gives parents a chance to maybe see their kid when their class visits the garden and also socialize and help with tasks that keep it all going. This is our third year operating as the Zilker Garden Club.
Tell us a little more about how the garden is a part of the kids’ school days, afterschool, or weekend experiences. How are kids, teachers, and parents/guardians interacting with the garden on a weekly basis?
We fund PEAS at a level that allows every kid in the school, PreK-5th, to have a garden class about 6 times during the school year. That’s nearly 600 kids that get to interact, plant, water, harvest, sing, and learn in this space. The garden also acts as a calming space where staff and students can go zen out whenever they need to. Some teachers bring their classes out there more than others but it is always open. Last year we added a fish pond that kids love to watch and added a gutter and rain barrel to our tool shed to collect and refill the pond using rainwater.
What have been some of the impacts of the school garden on the Zilker ES community?
We are very proud of our garden and our garden program. The 5th graders come together at the end of each school year for the “5th Grade Farm Stand” to sell the harvest and their wares to the rest of the kids and families so they can raise money for their graduation festivities. Everyone loves having the kids interacting with nature and exploring the processes, bugs, tastes, and smells of the garden.
Why is gardening in particular, and outdoor learning more generally, important for kids?
If you’ve never been in a garden or on a farm, you might not actually have any idea how food makes it to your mouth. These kids are seeing plants grow and produce edible things. They are exploring tastes that aren’t part of their snacking routine. They are seeing how nature works and why it is so important to themselves and the planet as a whole.
For parents or teachers looking to start or expand a school garden program, what are your tips for moving forward in a doable way? What resources should they know about?
Start small, work with free materials whenever possible, think sustainably, and make it fun. The amount of materials we have collected off the curb, from dumpsters, from yards… it adds up fast and plays into the whole concept of sustainability. Water is always going to be a big part of a garden so plan ways that conserve whenever possible. Rally some parents to form a gardening club and set realistic goals. A centralized garden will always be easier to maintain than having a bed at each classroom.
Talk to PEAS; they have tons of resources and programs available to help get started with free plants, free materials, free compost, and possibly even free PEAS instruction.