Lauderdale School

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About our Garden

Please describe your garden, is it raised beds, in the ground, do you have a greenhouse?

We have had the planters made by students at the local high school and paid for them. We used part of a PD day to come together and fill them with soil. We received our Indigenous Plants from the Edmonton Native Plant Society and the grade 1 students planted them as part of the curriculum. The plaque is currently being made and we are set to unveil our Lauderdale Healing Gardens on National Indigenous People's Day on June 21st. They look amazing! All students in the school will celebrate them and learn about the significance of the garden and the plants themselves at that point. Following curriculum and what is needed for plant growth. Also learning about Indigenous learning and bring the classroom back to the land. Learning about what plants are native to Alberta and thrive in our climate. Also learning the medicinal properties that belong to the plants through the teachings of our Elders.

What are your future plans for the school garden?

We will have lessons about connection to the land on June 21, 2021 from Mary-Jo Badger. The students will decorate orange hearts that identify what they appreciate about the outdoors (in pictures or words) and we will attach them to the tipi poles that also provide understanding. Students in div 2 will then smudge. The following day, we will have students learning about the plants themselves and their medicinal properties from Knowledge Keeper George Desjarlais.