Caze Courtyard Garden and After School Program

Caze Elementary School’s building surrounds a beautiful interior courtyard that has been developed into an outdoor classroom for the students, which was established in 2005. Most recently an after-school garden club has been created, integrating many gardening and environmental topics into the curriculum. The children take lessons on gardening, nutrition, plant growth, wildlife, and other pertinent topics. Together with Master Gardeners, the children learn how to start seeds, plant, and care for the plants, which include vegetables, herbs, annuals, perennials, and berries. The program provides valuable education to the children and allows them the opportunity to eat food that they have grown themselves.

NOVEMBER 2024 UPDATE: On two days in early October we transplanted succulent plugs with thirteen classes (all elementary grades Pre-K to grade 5) at Caze Elementary School. We were blessed with beautiful weather while we planted in the courtyard that still had many blooming sunflowers and perennials. Over 330 students learned about various varieties of succulent plants – including the spiky cacti and the healing aloe vera. These students also learned how easy it is to care for succulents. We had a variety of Sempervivum (Hen and Chicks) plugs for students to transplant, and they were so excited to choose their own plant! The kids kept us on our toes with many questions. Students, teachers and the administration expressed their appreciation for the event and for all of our Master Gardener volunteers who work tirelessly to keep the courtyard beautiful for the school.

JULY 2024 UPDATE: In 2024 we celebrate the twenty year anniversary of the Caze School Courtyard Garden being a SWIMGA project community garden – the garden was added to our project list in 2004. Many Master Gardeners have helped in the past twenty years, making the entrance an inviting way to start the day, along with making the courtyard an educational classroom that the teachers and students enjoy visiting. Throughout the years, the garden has had many chairs, cochairs, and volunteers, all with the same goal of educating the children and enjoying the outdoors. Seven stations have been built into the courtyard for visitors to enjoy: 1. Sensory Area 2. Pollinator Lane 3. Sunflower Reading Area 4. Gazebo 5. Staging Area 6. Vegetable Garden 7. Pergola.

The Junior Master Gardeners after school program has taught many children how to grow vegetables and plant flowers, educated about pollinators and native plants, and ultimately encouraged them to take this knowledge home to grow their own gardens. The Day Education program has educated children on how to plant bulbs, how to plant a Three Sister’s Garden and how to harvest the produce. They’ve enjoyed learning about butterfly metamorphosis along with releasing them in the courtyard. Our vegetable garden has produced many fresh vegetables to donate to area food pantries.

We held an open house at Caze on July 16, inviting all Master Gardeners to come and enjoy the Caze entrance and courtyard.

JUNE 2024 UPDATE: May has been busy in the Caze courtyard – planting flowers, vegetables, and spreading mulch. The vegetable garden is producing broccoli, kale, onions and radishes. The Caze teachers are using the courtyard as an educational tool to teach the students about vegetables, flowers, and pollinators. At the Butterfly Days on April 19, fourteen butterfly habitats of painted lady caterpillars were passed out to eleven classes, followed by a presenation to each class a presentation on metamorphosis of the caterpillars. We were in the courtyard in May when two classes came out to release their butterflies — one habitat released nine butterflies while another had seven to release.

On May 10, Caze held a reward class day for students. The vice principal chose seven students to spend one hour in the courtyard, where they got a tour educating them about pollinators, native plants, vegetables, and how to read a seed packet. These students also learned how to plant and divide flowers, how to plant okra and radishes, and the signs for harvest timing for vegetables. Each student received a package of zinnias to take home to plant.

On May 13, when the corn planted in April reached 4-6 inches tall, Three Sisters Garden volunteers did a second event with the 4th grade classes, planting beans and squash. In addition to planting, students are instructed in the nutritional value and biological value of the Three Sisters — corn, beans, and squash. If all works out, they will meet again in the fall to harvest the crop and provide the experience of making corn meal.

May 2024 UPDATE: Angel Mounds Three Sisters volunteers helped 60 4th graders plant corn in a mini Three Sisters Garden in April. The children learned about the Three Sisters Legend and companion gardening.

April 2024 UPDATE: On February 27 and 28 we held another successful spring bulb planting with the students of Caze Elementary! Sixteen classes with over 385 students planted daffodil bulbs with the help of 12 SWIMGA volunteers. The bulbs were donated by a SWIMGA member from her property. The kids were amazed that they were already sprouted and that some even had small buds. The teachers, administration and students were so thankful, and everyone is looking forward to sunflower and zinnia seed planting with the students in May. As the Caze courtyard garden comes back to life this spring, some of the soil and mulch are being replenished. The gazebo and pergola will also be stained since that hasn’t been done in almost five years.