Project Launch:

There are limited vegetables available in the Limon province of Costa Rica and as a result, the Hone Creek Elementary School bears environmental and financial costs for transporting vegetables in order to provide their students and staff with school lunches. To reduce the environmental and financial costs they bear, World Connect is supporting the school in installing an organic garden on its grounds. Students are participating in all aspects of the construction and maintenance of the garden, and organic waste from lunches will be composted and used in the following planting cycles. Not only will the vegetables grown in the garden reduce the school's costs and complement school lunches, this project is providing a practical opportunity to educate the children about sustainable agriculture.

 

Project Update:

The students, teachers and faculty of Hone Creek Elementary School learned how to design a garden, plant seeds, and maintain the garden as well as to compost and create bio-fertilizer. Students received nutritional instruction that promoted consumption of more fruits and vegetables as opposed to processed food. The harvest from the garden has been incorporated into school lunches, increasing nutrition and food security, and reducing food costs for students, families, and the school.

Joel, a thirteen-year-old student, was featured in our Putting Faces to the Projects: Outstanding Persons Series for his involvement, dedication, and enthusiasm towards the project.

 

Testimonials

“It is cool to plant things and then come back in a few days and see that the plants have already grown. I also like that we get to eat what we plant.” – Rashira, 11, Project Participant
“We need to take care of the earth because without her we can’t live. In the past, the earth provided a lot for us, but after many years we didn’t treat her well and now produces less. We almost always ate what she produced, but we haven’t given back.” – Katherine, 10, Project Participant
“Joel, whose attendance at school was not very consistent and eventually stopped coming to class, became significantly engaged in the school garden project. Not only did the project increase his participation in class, where kids wear their school uniforms, he would go home to change clothes so as not to dirty his uniform and come back in ‘work’ clothes including rubber boots. He was very enthusiastic and took on a leadership role working in this non-traditional 'classroom' outdoors and really made an impression on us, his teachers and his peers by taking a positive leadership role in demonstrating to others how to perform certain tasks.” – Stephen and Melinda, Peace Corps Volunteers