The state Department of Education school year begins today, which means all across Hawaii, shovels will soon be turning the soil, hands will be getting dirty and seeds will be sown. Many public and private schools have garden programs, but what purpose do they have?

Gardens can be the setting for curriculum in biology, botany and ecology, as students learn what plants need to grow, and about the invertebrates and microorganisms that cycle nutrients in our soil. Students can incorporate technology with hydroponics, aquaponics, lights and control systems. However, the benefits go much further.

Alberto Ricordi, a landscape architect with PBR Hawaii, volunteers in the garden at Pope Elementary School in Waimanalo. Teachers use the garden there to meet common core curriculum in all subjects. Students use the garden beds to learn geometry and conduct science experiments. Being outdoors and working with their hands inspires them to create works of art and literature about the plants they grow.

Ricordi gets most excited sharing how the garden motivates the children.

“They would know which plants they grew, which plants needed water and care,” he said. “When they harvested, they felt a big sense of accomplishment.”

Students felt pride and ownership of the garden, and named it Ka Mala Lani.

Students benefit from outdoor learning. At Pope Elementary, teachers noticed that some students worked better outdoors, and began to use the garden and shady outdoor areas more. At Kaimuki Middle School, Sustainability Coordinator Juliet Matsumura manages the Green Lab, the school’s garden and outdoor learning space.

“Kids are inside the classroom all day, so getting fresh air gives them focus and energy,” she said. “It’s a chance to have true hands-on learning.”

For many students, lessons in the garden are the first time they get to grow plants and eat freshly picked fruits and vegetables. They often discover that the food they grow in the garden tastes better than the groceries their parents buy. They learn about different kinds of produce they haven’t tried or were unwilling to try before.

Matsumura recalled a big harvest with the students last year.

“We made a soup from ingredients totally grown in the garden — amaranth, chives, carrots, green beans, okra, long squash, sweet potato leaves, sage, rosemary, basil — with some chicken broth, and the kids really enjoyed it,” she said. “These are kids that don’t eat the vegetables in their school lunch.”

Getting their hands dirty helps students learn lessons in sustainability. Through composting their food waste, students learn that fruit and vegetable waste can be recycled into nutrients for plants, while junk food wrappers end up in the trash. Seeing that process in action helps them understand the importance of healthy food choices and how their daily choices make an impact on the planet.

“This will be much more memorable to them than reading about it in a textbook,” said Matsumura. “When you can use all of your senses to learn, it creates a more lasting impression in the brain. They can see, smell, touch and taste in the garden.”

I learned firsthand the benefits of helping in the school garden as a volunteer docent with ʻAINA in Schools. The program, part of the Kokua Hawaiʻi Foundation, is a farm-to-school initiative that connects children to their local land, waters and food to grow a healthier Hawaii. Their curriculum and training made it fun and easy for me to give composting and gardening lessons to children at Waikiki Elementary School. It was fun to help the kids, but I also learned valuable gardening techniques through this curriculum.

If you are interested and committed, there are many ways to help at your local school garden. To learn more about ways to volunteer and resources for educators, visit the University of Hawaiʻi Master Gardener Program on the web (www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/uhmg). The website has helpful information for all gardeners. Happy digging!

Kalani Matsumura is an extension agent with the University of Hawaii’s College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources’ Master Gardener Program.