The mission Sustainable Seeds is to expose youth to interactive learning of mathematics, science, and the environment through the design and maintenance of an urban organic garden. Sustainable Seeds is a curriculum that engages elementary school youth in interactive learning in the areas of mathematics, science, environment, and health and nutrition. It is a learning model created to increase academic achievement, while also exposing youth in the urban environment to agriculture and healthy living practices. Through activities centered on the maintenance of the garden, youth are taught about the process of food cultivation.
In the Butterfly Garden Unity Circle chanting the "Garden Creed"
Through hands-on indoor and outdoor activities, students learn the process by which scientific experiments are designed and conducted, and recognize the importance of the scientific methodology in the exploration of topics such as pollination, water and soil quality, vegetation type, land use, and composting. In order to facilitate an interdisciplinary application of Physical Fitness/Health, Language Arts, Mathematics, and Environmental Science, the program incorporates the following activities:
Physical Fitness/Health
Students practicing Tai Chi during class
Enjoying food prepared in the garden
*Learning proper stretching and breathing to be done before physical activity
*Benefits of participating in gardening/outdoor activities
*Health benefits of organically grown foods
*Environmental benefits of use of renewable energy sources
LANGUAGE ARTS
Playing "Gardenopoly to learn aspects of gardening
Designing a scrapbook of garden activities
*Helping to compose a newsletter for distribution to parents and community members
*Describing and drawing plants and other organism from the habitat area
*Creating posters and fliers advertising urban gardening project to community and schools
MATHEMATICS
Measuring the growth of plants
Using tape measure to build garden beds
*Identifying geometric patterns in the natural habitat
*Measuring, charting, and graphing growth rates of plants
*Using problem solving during field and class activities
SCIENCE
Studying the effects of food coloring on flower pedals
Experimenting with science in the garden
*Identifying plants, insects, and other animals
*Studying the basic elements of types of energy
*Identifying components of soil and water types and how they function in an ecosystem
*Studying the process of photosynthesis