“It would be awesome to have her visit us in Loveland.” – Second grade teacher, Brooke Hobson
Loveland, Ohio – Connie Bateman, one of the Garden Educators for Granny’s Garden School came up with an idea to put the focus on education through school gardens with a spotlight on Granny’s Garden School. She wants First Lady Michelle Obama to visit Loveland. Obama recently announced plans for a school garden tour across the nation. It is part of her “Let’s Move!” initiative. Bateman asked her students to draw pictures and write invitations to the First Lady to include Loveland’s Granny’s Garden School on her “American Garden Tour”.
The students have been asked to create invitations that describe or show the impact of learning in the gardens.
Bateman would also like parents and others in the community to help urge the First Lady to make a stop at the Loveland schools. “We want to show the First Lady what can be accomplished through a school garden program. And, we want the larger community to become aware of the all the aspects of Granny’s Garden School,” she said. “We are involving letters to Senator Portman and Rep. Wenstrup, hoping they will be valuable in persuading Mrs. Obama to chase Loveland as a stop on her School Garden tour.”
Second grade teacher, Brooke Hobson also urged fellow teachers to get their students involved. She said to them, “Mrs. Obama is doing tours of incredible school gardens and we know ours is the best. Granny’s Garden is such a huge part of our science program — it would be awesome to have her visit us in Loveland.” She told fellow teachers that it should only take a few minutes of time and could easily be done during an indoor recess or part of a daily class writing project.
First grade teacher, Jennifer Miller’s class participated. She said, “It would be really exciting for Michelle Obama to come to our school, and for my students to learn at such an early age that they might be part of making it possible. Also, I love the opportunity to make their writing lessons meaningful, and every-day-practical for my students.”
How you can help
All of these educators are urging the community of parents and garden school supporters to write letters as well. They feel the national attention the First Lady could bring to the school gardens would be a great boost for the program. Miller said, “Moms, dads, and grandparents could also draw or paint their own interpretation of how important and successful Granny’s Garden School has been to Loveland and to their own children.”
Granny’s Garden School is a private non-profit and depends on donations and grants for funding. Even though the educational lessons are part of the school curriculum, they receive no public tax dollars to sustain the operation. They provide the infrastructure, garden educators, volunteers, and other support personnel. Granny’s Garden School develops and supports hands-on learning experiences for children through schoolyard-based garden and nature focused programs. They have designed, created, installed, managed, and provide year-around maintenance. They provide “educational food” used in school kitchens. The flower gardens, learning centers, and nature trails on school grounds are all free of charge to the district.
Here are the addresses:
First Lady Michelle Obama
1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW.
Washington, DC 20500
Senator Rob Portman
448 Russell Senate office building
Washington DC 20510
Representative Brad Wenstrup
1318 Longworth H. O.B.
Washington, D. C . 20515
You are not a letter writer?
Bateman said that there is no good way to reach the First Lady by email. However, she asks you to also invite other government officials to visit. You can invite them via email. She said, “Put Granny’s Garden School” in the subject and include the website address (http://grannysgardenschool.org/) in the text.
US Representative Brad Wenstrup
Ohio Interim Superintendent of School Dr. Lonny I. Riveria (To email him scroll down to the bottom of the page.)
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