Geneva students grow more than just pumpkins

“Buy your pumpkins here!” shout six second-grade girls holding up a sign listing prices for pumpkins.

They were among 30 Western Avenue Elementary students selling pumpkins they had grown themselves at the Geneva school’s Great Pumpkin Festival Friday, Oct. 14.

Just one year ago, first- and second-graders were planting pumpkins with their class in the schoolyard — part of an idea originated by the PTO group, “Get Up and Grow.”

“The pumpkin garden covers every aspect of education; right now the students are learning the economics side of it,” said Jen Kelley, co-chair of the Get Up and Grow program. “The students are taught about the roots in science and the diet and nutrition of growing their own garden.”

Kelley said that the garden idea started with a conversation between parents after dropping the kids off on their first day of school.

“There was so much unused land, we thought of growing an edible garden,” Kelley said.

Western Avenue Elementary School provides land for this garden that the children plant, grow, dig and maintain.

With a big smile on her face, second-grader Elley Thor said the best part is “watching the pumpkins grow.”

“We wanted to give back to the community for helping out with this garden all throughout the summer,” Kelley said.

Local scout troops helped water and maintain the garden over the summer. With a $4,000 grant from the state, the committee was also able to plant fig, apple and cherry trees around the garden.

“I came here to help, but it looks like the committee has it all wrapped up,” said Kris Chapski of Geneva, parent of a third-grader while holding up a storytelling sign.

The festival featured students selling apple cider and taffy apples. There was also face painting, a showing of “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown,” and storytelling.

“I chose to read a book called “Muncha! Muncha! Muncha!” (by Candace Fleming),” said Pat Zachwieja, third grade teacher. “The book is about a rabbit who eats a garden; it is great for this occasion.”

Zachwieja was surprised the pumpkin garden wasn’t eaten by deer.

In the future, organizers of Get Up and Grow plan to expand the garden so that all grades can participate.

“Our goal is to provide students with a cross-curricular education with an edible farm,” Kelley said.

A pile of bricks were set in front of the garden waiting to be installed. The bricks were donated by Paveloc.

The money raised from selling pumpkins and cider will be used to have the bricks installed around the garden.

“Everyone was a huge help,” said Lisa Goewey, co-chair of Get Up and Grow. “We want to do this every year to get a bigger outcome.”

Barb Freeman, a teacher at Western Avenue Elementary, came to purchase a pumpkin. Freeman said that she didn’t anticipate so many pumpkins.

“It is such a fabulous crop,” she said.

Pumpkins aren’t the only things that students grow. Students said that they also plant squash at home.