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Zachary Lane students describe GrowLab garden program during school board meeting
Summary
Students and staff from Zachary Lane Elementary presented the school’s GrowLab/Junior Master Gardener project to the Robbinsdale board, describing hands‑on lessons, partnerships and grants that support raised beds, a pollinator garden and sensory beds.
Students from Zachary Lane Elementary described the school’s GrowLab and junior master gardener program to the Robbinsdale Area School Board at its June 3 meeting, saying the hands‑on garden lessons connect science, reading and social skills.
Principal Matt Phelps and teacher volunteers told the board the program started with a 2019 grant from 7 Dreams and grew through volunteer labor, an Eagle Scout bench project and partnerships with Hennepin County and University of Minnesota Master Gardeners. Phelps said all K–5 students receive at least three lessons a year aligned to standards.
Student voices
Several students spoke at the podium: second‑grader Bridal said, “Fruits and vegetables are very important to the Earth… Fruits and vegetables keep us healthy.” Third‑grader Kayson told the board the garden “help[s] the earth” by producing oxygen; third‑grader Brooklyn described skipping recess to work in the garden and said the master gardeners teach children to plant seeds, pick up sticks and “digging through worms.” First‑grader Violet said she likes planting seeds and vegetables.
Why it matters
Staff and the students said the garden supports cross‑curricular learning, sensory needs and family engagement through summer tending sign‑ups. Principal Phelps invited board members to visit the school and collect “forget‑me‑not” seed packets that students handed out at the meeting.
Ending
The superintendent presented certificates to students and encouraged families to send photos of seedlings to the school so they can be shared districtwide. The board received the presentation without taking formal action.
