We have a large increase in the number of students suffering from stress and anxiety as a side effect of Covid situation, particularly with or LGBTQ students. Our campus does not have an LGBTQ safe space for these students to decompress and feel safe in being their true selves.
We are planning to turn a disused outdoor space into a garden safe space that will offer mental wellness activities. The primary focus at first is our LGBTQ students but we have plans to branch out from there.
Overall things went great. We received other funding in addition to the Roots and Shoots grant so we were able to create an outstanding garden safe space and provide workshops for our LGBTQ population about mental wellness and LGBTQ issues.
I would say that we learned a lot about what lanes can survive in our designated space. We lost a lot over the summer. But we also learned that kids love working in the garden. Getting their hands in the dirt and planting seeds has been emotionally healing.
I think we would reconsider the types of plants we selected. And I think we would have organized student gardeners on a regular schedule rather than randomly when supervisors had time.
I loved seeing kids be excited about having a beautiful space on campus that celebrates who they are. The banners we printed to hang in the garden that feature LGBTQ icons and positive messages have received a lot of positive feedback.
There is an interest at the high school level to have gardening. Kids learn a lot of soft skills like patience, and resilience through gardening.
