THOMASTON — The Thomaston Grammar School Common Ground Garden and Outdoor Classroom continues to make itself known.

The garden’s lead teacher, Lynn Snow, has recently been chosen as the 2019 Maine Agriculture in the Classroom Teacher of the Year.

Snow was recognized at the organization’s annual meeting on October 24. At this event, Snow presented a slideshow discussing the history, growth, and curriculum integration of the garden.

This school garden began in 2009 when a group of four teachers decided to turn the old Georges Valley High School ropes course area, long abandoned, into a 5th grade garden. The group included Snow, as well as the late Daniel Allan, and now retired educators Anne Pavalkis and Colleen Kreps.

Since its inception, the garden has grown to include numerous raised beds, perennial rock gardens, a succulent tower garden, fruit trees/bushes, bird houses and feeders, composting bins, a garden shed, and an impressive rainwater collection roof and stage (a Lowes Heroes project in 2013).

Additionally, the garden fence, new in 2017, has a section dedicated to “Learning Locks” where anyone is invited to place a lock to commemorate lifelong learning.

Snow’s passion is hands-on education and she finds a variety of ways to teach her students about gardening, food science, and literacy, according to a TGS news release. Her fifth grade classroom is an old home economics room. In 2016, a Georges River Education Foundation (GREF) grant allowed Snow funds to replace old appliances and purchase necessary supplies and equipment to do cooking with her students.

Each fall, the garden harvest is used in the classroom where Snow has introduced her kids to foods that they may not have tried before. Because they are directly involved in the preparation, these fifth graders are eating homemade salsa, pasta sauce, zucchini recipes, and roasted vegetables.

A new tradition in Snow’s classroom, “TGSgiving,” is held on the day before Thanksgiving break. This is an opportunity for students to prepare a full meal in their classroom kitchen.

“They enjoy the fruits of their labor, family style, that afternoon,” said the release. “It’s a special time for all.”

The TGS Common Ground Garden will be planted for the 10th consecutive year this coming spring. Students will kick off the garden unit when they open the “Common Ground Garden Seed Company” in April. Here, students will learn the basics of running a business as they design seed packets, fill them with bulk seeds, and sell their product to local gardeners.

Many subject areas such as art, math, and history are incorporated through the seed sale project. Students learn small business skills authentically.

The school garden is funded through student fundraising, individual and community giving, and grant monies. There are many local people and businesses that have helped to make the garden what it is today. The new Ande’s Redeption Center in Warren has an account for the “Thomaston school garden” as another source of funding.

As Teacher of the Year, Snow will attend the Maine Agricultural trades show, the 2019 and 2020 National Agriculture in the Classroom conferences, and work to promote the teaching of food, fuel, and fiber.

Additionally, Snow will serve on the board of directors for the Maine School Garden Network.

To learn more about the TGS Common Ground Garden and Maine Agriculture in the Classroom, visit their Facebook page and website.

https://www.facebook.com/TGS-5th-Grade-Common-Ground-Garden-and-Outdoor-Classroom-378898225546467/

https://www.agclassroom.org/me/index.cfm