How does your garden grow?

Sarah A. Robert, associate professor from the Department of Learning and Instruction, is partnering with Buffalo School Gardens and Grassroots Gardens of Buffalo to increase involvement in school gardens of students, teachers, parents and community members associated with Buffalo Public Schools. The collaboration is part of the UB Graduate School of Education Faculty in Residence Program.

“School gardens are the focus of global research for strengthening local food systems, educating the youngest members of a community about the links between the human and natural environment,” said Robert. “Understanding these links provides the means to address issues such as obesity and poverty, which benefits both our local and global communities.”

Currently, there are 26 schools in the Buffalo Public School system that have gardens. Involvement in these gardens helps student learning, encourages healthy eating habits, and strengthens families and the community. “The goal of this project is increasing this involvement with the hope that the benefits of involvement will impact policies within the school district,” said Robert.

The Faculty in Residence Program is an initiative designed to engage GSE faculty and local community-based educational institutions in site-based, mutually beneficial research-based projects. Projects must demonstrate clear benefits to the community and may include a wide-range of researchable topics.