Garden

About the Garden:

The Stoddert Garden was started four years ago as a learning lab for life sciences. Community members, students, and staff came together to build the garden from the ground up. The garden has since become a space with six raised beds growing vegetables, a large perennial garden, and two pollinator gardens. In the garden, you can also find herbs, and compost bins, and if you come at the right time of year, egg laying hens!

The Stoddert Garden is both a learning space for students as well as a welcoming, green space for the community. Led by the school’s garden coordinator, Mr. Curt Canada, the Stoddert students learn gardening skills and life science lessons.

Below are some examples of what students will study in the garden this year:

K: Animals and their habitats.
1st: Trees, plants, and animals
2nd: Plants, animals, and states of matter
3rd: Ecosystems, climate, animal survival
4th: Animal and plant structures
5th: Ecosystems, food systems, conservation

The PTO’s vice-president of garden and sustainability for school year 2017-18 is Jessica O’Connell.

Help The Garden Grow:

The school’s garden is truly a community effort and is only possible because of an all-hands-on-deck approach to garden care. The garden relies on a strong group of volunteers to keep the garden green and growing. The garden needs volunteers for:

GARDEN MAINTENANCE
WATERING
ART IN THE GARDEN
FARMERS’ MARKET
CHICKEN CARE
…AND ANY OTHER GARDEN TASK THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO DO!

If you are interested in volunteering, please contact email Mr. Curt Canada directly.

About Mr. Canada:

My name is Mr. Canada and this is my second year as the garden coordinator. Though I am originally from Charleston West Virginia I have lived in Glover Park for more than 10 years. I have been a part of the Stoddert community since 2000, as substitute teacher and as a teacher intern in Ms Stevenson first grade class.

I hold both a Masters in Elementary Education from American University and a Masters in Social Work from the University of Iowa. I have managed a gardening architectural project in NorthEast DC. For the past nine year, I have been gardening/publicity director for the Outdoor Concert Series here in Glover Park. I am presently a summer volunteer for Glover Park and Burleith Farmer’s Market.

I simply love everything about gardens, student achievement, and community. I look forward to planting inspiration, kindness, and gratitude as a part of the Stoddert educational experience!

Garden News:

Stoddert Elementary

A District of Columbia Public School

Garden