Pollinator Lessons

Let the gardening begin! Students at State Road Elementary and Hamilton/SOTA I are getting their hands dirty planting this season’s first seeds for the garden. Students helped plant tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, herbs, ground cherries, greens and more. Students will watch their sprouts as they grow on the Grow La Crosse seed cart.  Please check them out if you visit the school.

To the right is a picture of students in our first lesson “What’s the Buzz on Pollinators?  This spring, you’ll also see Grow La Crosse at afterschool programs and in the lunchroom. We’re doing some hands-on lessons in the afterschool program and learning more about compost in the cafeteria.

Staff Shoutout: Kristy!

Meet our staff member, Kristy DuChateau, the Garden Coordinator for the Harry Spence Elementary garden. Kristy comes to Grow LaCrosse with a passion for connecting children to their food source. As a previous Farm2School Educator, she has recognized the big disconnect for people with where our food comes from and how it gets onto our plates. Her mission in life is to bridge that gap, especially for the youth, so they understand the process of growing food; from the planting of a seed to caring for that growing plant and when the time comes, enjoying it’s harvest. Kristy also has a passion for the outdoors, whether she is hiking, gardening or playing in the backyard with her family, she tries to be out in nature as much as possible. Kristy is on the Education Committee for the YMCA’s Food Forest and she is a Registered Yoga Instructor and loves to teach all ages the benefits of practicing yoga.

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Thank you Thrivent Financial

Grow wants to extend a huge thank you to Thrivent Financial for making the Grow La Crosse Spence Elementary school garden possible.  Thrivent Financial is the garden sponsor for this school which provides funding for the garden education sessions and outdoor learning environment.  You are helping to connect children to healthy food and nature through a garden program right at their school.  The Spence garden will allow over 350 children to participate in hands-on lessons through the spring, summer and fall and create space for outdoor exploration.  Our typical school gardens receive over 3000 visits.  We have no doubt this one will exceed that number, drawing children, families and community members.  Thank you Thrivent Financial for helping build a healthier community.

For more information on Thrivent Financial, check out our last blog. If you are interested in becoming a Thrivent member or want to learn more, please contact Heather Young at 608-385-0876 or heather.young@thrivent.com

If you’re a Thrvent member and interested in supporting Grow La Crosse event with your Thrivent Action Team, please contact jamie@growlacrosse.org.  She will provide the blurb to copy into your Thrivent Action Team ask.  It’s easy and only takes a few minutes.

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