Miami Group Innings: "Granny's Garden School" by Roberta Paolo

“GRANNY’S GARDEN SCHOOL”

presentation by ROBERTA PAOLO

Roberta Paolo will talk about why school gardens are important, the role of organizations like GGS, the organizations plans for the future, and possible ways our organizations may collaborate.

Roberta Paolo is the founder and executive director of Granny's Garden School (http://grannysgardenschool.org/) (GGS), a non-profit organization that develops and manages garden and nature based programs on school grounds. GGS removes obstacles that often prevent schools from offering outdoor education by providing infrastructure, personnel, volunteers, integrated curriculum and project management. This allows them to turn school grounds into vibrant Schoolyard Nature Gardens with flowers, vegetables, gathering spaces, and a nature trail that serves as the background for experiential learning (experience as the source of learning and development).

Their flagship program, founded in 2002 (with its 120 vegetable gardens, many flower gardens and two nature trails) serves all of Loveland’s nearly 1,600 first-fourth grade students (3 public schools). Our 20 week, in-school program makes it one of the largest and most comprehensive schoolyard based outdoor learning programs in the country.

With the addition of a satellite program at Stewart Elementary School in the Princeton School District in 2014, they now serve 2,000 students.