Birch Narrows Dene Community School, Turnor Lake, SK
Plant a Seed and See What Grows Foundation Grant, 2024
Our school, a proud First Nations community located in northwestern Saskatchewan, serves 240 students ranging from Head-start/Nursery to Grade 12. This year, we embarked on an exciting project that brought our students and staff together: building and planting six beautiful planter boxes that have become a source of pride and joy for everyone.
The high school students, under the guidance of our practical arts teacher, took the lead in constructing the planter boxes. This hands-on activity allowed them to apply their skills, learn teamwork, and create something meaningful for the entire school community. Once the boxes were built, the students filled them with soil and prepared them for planting.
We filled the planters with a variety of plants, some brought in and others planted from seeds. The greenery thrived, even through the cold and harsh winter months, symbolizing resilience and care. This project not only beautified our school but also created a calming and nurturing environment for students and staff alike.
One particularly touching moment involved a Grade 3 student and their teacher. For this student, planting seeds and arranging flowers became a calming and therapeutic activity. Together, they planted flowers and tended to them, turning the planter boxes into a place of comfort and tranquillity.
We now plan to expand this initiative by using the leftover soil to start a school garden. Our vision includes planting vegetables like potatoes and carrots, along with various herbs. This garden will serve as an educational tool, teaching students about sustainability, agriculture, and the importance of nurturing the land. It will also provide an opportunity for students to connect with their cultural roots, as traditional gardening practices have always been an integral part of First Nations heritage.
This project has brought our school community closer together, fostering a sense of pride and responsibility. It has given our students practical skills, created a more vibrant school environment, and inspired new ideas for the future. We look forward to seeing the garden flourish and hope it will continue to teach and inspire for years to come.
