Sparking Moments That Matter: Growing Together at Tremont

 

At Tremont Elementary School, learning is taking root in a whole new way. Thanks to a schoolwide indoor gardening project, students aren’t just planting seeds — they’re discovering how curiosity, collaboration and hands-on experience can help them grow as learners.

For Shelly Bloom, a gifted intervention specialist at Tremont, this project was a way to engage every student in hands-on learning. 

“We’ve done garden projects in my class where we designed outdoor garden beds and used area and perimeter,” Bloom said. “I teach math, so it was a really natural integration. But I wanted to see if we could get all of the kids involved.”

That idea blossomed into a shared vision — one rooted in growth, collaboration and community.

“Creating a common theme of we are growing together — that we’re going to plant together, harvest together and enjoy it together — was just a really nice idea,” Bloom said.

With support from the Upper Arlington Education Foundation, that vision became reality. The UA+Ed funded 53 tabletop growers — small but mighty tools that brought gardening into classrooms and spaces throughout the building.

For students, those growers became an invitation to explore, measure, experiment and care for something living.

“We’ve been growing lettuce, dill, basil,” shared Tremont student Sylvia S. “We get to use it in the cafeteria, and we learn about how it grows. It’s really fun.”

Another student, Tucker U., loved the hands-on nature of the experience.  “Everybody got to put the seeds in, and they got to pour water and stuff,” he said.

Students weren’t just watching the process — they were deeply involved every step of the way.

“I helped measure, I helped snip a little bit, and then I put them in plastic bags,” Sylvia explained.

The project is expanding even further thanks to a Grow Ohio Grant from the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce. The $17,000 grant is allowing the school to formally connect classroom learning with nutrition education.

“Because we applied under edible gardens, we’re able to integrate with our nutrition team and harvest what we are growing and put it in the cafeteria for the kids to enjoy,” Bloom said.

That partnership has transformed the harvest into something students could taste.

“We did some roasted vegetables with fresh dill and fresh basil, which went over great with the kids,” said Irene Hunt, Director of Nutritional Services. “The excitement students get when they know something has been grown by their own students — that’s one of the things that really surprised us.”

For students like Tucker, seeing the process come full circle made all the difference.

“It was really good,” he said. “It’s just like we made them, and it’s like you never really get to do those things in school. So I’m just really happy that we get to do that here.”

At Tremont, the garden has become more than a project. It’s a living example of how learning can connect subjects, spark pride and create moments that students will remember long after the harvest.