Edible Classroom cultivates food and learning

Columbia Borough is one of six school districts in the Lancaster area teaching students about how to garden and appreciate the fruits – or vegetables – of their labor. According to an article on Lancaster Online, a nonprofit organization called Edible Classroom has partnered with the schools to offer school programs where students plant seeds, pull weeds and harvest vegetables and herbs from gardens created on school property. Summer camps are also offered to the public for a fee. The organization was started by two parent volunteers – Beth Horst and Grace Julian – who have children in Penn Manor School District where the program started. Student not only learn gardening skills but also about composting and how to prepare healthful and tasty foods with what is grown, such as smoothies or pizza. The program harvests more than a 1,000 pounds of food a year, which either goes home with students or is donated.