By: Chelsey Hanson
4th Grade Teacher at Heart River Elementary
The Department of Agriculture sends out Ag Mags to classrooms to help teach North Dakota agriculture to students. Last year, we received materials on wheat, pollinators, and livestock. I enjoy reviewing these topics with my students. When they sent out a survey to teachers for feedback on the North Dakota Ag Mag and the teacher's guide, I felt it was important to respond. As a result, I was able to register for a drawing for a tower garden—and I won!
Heather Lang joined our class this fall to set up the tower garden in my classroom, allowing my students to participate in the process. They learned how the tower garden functions, filled it with water and nutrients, and placed seed pods into the tower. We have watched the plants grow from small seed pods to full-grown plants!
Some of the plants matured and were ready to eat, so the students had the opportunity to try them. They sampled kale, red salad bowl lettuce, butter lettuce, cilantro, parsley, Swiss chard, red and green mustard, and green tatsai. We still have cherry tomatoes, sweet peppers, jalapeños, dill, mint, and chives growing, and we are very excited to see how those develop as well.
Overall, this hands-on experience with the tower garden has not only enhanced my students' understanding of agriculture but also fostered a sense of excitement and curiosity about where their food comes from. As they engage in planting, nurturing, and eventually tasting the produce, they are developing a deeper appreciation for healthy eating and sustainable practices. I look forward to continuing this journey with my students and exploring more agricultural topics in the future!