Buckfield teachers are cream of the crops

BUCKFIELD – Buckfield Middle School teachers Annette Caldwell and Gretchen Kimball were recently awarded the 2011 Maine Agriculture in the Classroom Teacher of the Year Award.

Their work on the Garden Project at the Buckfield Middle School is the reason for the award.

With the help of Caldwell and Kimball, students used 1.2 acres of land to develop a garden, with the purpose of absorbing students into a significant project that enhances academic achievement, reinforces healthy choices, promotes ecological stewardship, and fosters community and social development.

Since its inception the garden has transformed an old corn field into a sustainable community resource.

According to Caldwell, the garden is primarily tended by the students.

“In the spring, they use a budget to order seedlings and seeds and start many of the veggies and flowers with grow-lights right in the classrooms.”

May is spent preparing the soil, and in June the garden is planted. In all, a hundred kids and 10 teachers are involved with the project, including weeding, watering and harvesting throughout the summer.

“By July, the students get to begin harvesting and lugging home bags of veggies to share with their families,” said Kimball.

“In August they market their produce!” added Caldwell. “It’s done at the student-built farm stand, learning public relations, finance and retail.”

The students also donate food baskets to the local elderly.

At the season’s end, all the middle school teachers and students prepare for their year-end celebration: The Harvest Supper, where the public is invited to eat foods that were grown and prepared by the students. The first supper raised approximately $3,000, which was donated to a local family with a medical hardship.”

Caldwell said that additional projects will include a composting area and an outdoor classroom.

“Other teachers in the school actively use the garden to teach language arts, math, science and history,” she said. “And in the fall the produce is used in the cafeteria as well.”

Healthy Oxford Hills nominated the two teachers for the award.

“We were pleased at the idea of being nominated, but humbled and surprised when we were actually given MAITC’s Teacher of the Year,” said Kimball. “There are many educational efforts to promote sustainable agriculture throughout the state, and to think ours is among the cream of the crop, so to speak, is very rewarding.”

“My first thoughts were excitement and happiness that we were being recognized for all the effort we put into the garden project, especially during the summer,” added Caldwell. “Then I was feeling a little guilty that others weren't recognized. Gretchen and I lead the project, but many people contribute to the project too and we couldn't have such a successful program without help.”

Caldwell and Kimball will travel expense-free to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida in June to attend the National Agriculture in the Classroom Conference.

Photo:

RECOGNIZED – Annette Caldwell and Gretchen Kimball, center, recently received the 2011 Maine Agriculture in the Classroom Teacher of the Year Award, which was held in Augusta. The awards were given in recognition of the teacher’s involvement with the garden project at Buckfield Middle School. Others pictured are David Bell, chair of the MAICT; and Maine’s First Lady Karen Baldacci.