Profile: Renata Adkins
Renata Adkins first became involved with the Civic Garden Center while a student at Cincinnati State and UC. Later, while working at the EPA, her co-workers invited her to an office party that was held at our facility. “We really enjoyed ourselves there and I found the place to be so lovely,” Renata said. “I wanted to come back.”
When Renata became a teacher at Riverview Academy three years ago, she was introduced to Ellie Falk, the CGC’s youth education coordinator. After that she became, as she says, “officially” involved in Riverview East Community Garden. In partnership with Grad Cincinnati and UC School of Medicine, they initiated a "Farm to Fork" activity for their after-school program.
The Importance of School Gardens
Renata is keenly aware that school gardens can answer more than the basic questions: what is healthy food, where does it come from, who makes it, how does it taste. School gardens are restorative spaces—especially in the midst of a pandemic—for social learning. They encourage kids to reflect and explore emotions. They also help educators bring academic ideas to life with a shared necessity in life: food.
As a high school biology teacher, Renata says that having access to a community garden is a dream! “Luckily for me, Riverview East has a garden right next to campus. It gives me the opportunity to develop hands-on lessons for my students and engages them in real world skills, like, urban gardening. I enjoy teaching students’ skills that they can carry beyond the classroom, and possibly share with friends and family,” she said.
Renata believes that students gain knowledge best when they can practice and observe the content. For example, biodiversity is part of her biology curriculum, so using the garden as a classroom to teach the interdependence of species is perfect. Additionally, students gain confidence as they see tangible results from their hard work in the garden.
The Impact of COVID-19
The pandemic has had an impact on Riverview East’s school garden. They were unable to use the garden as a classroom last school year due to need for remote learning all of last spring. “Getting our program started has been rocky given the COVID-19 pandemic,” Renata says, “but we are hopeful for future success as things progress. Being able to be outside to take a socially distant mask break will make life is easier for both students and teachers. My hope is that the students will be eager to get outdoors as the weather warms up and they get tired of being indoors with masks on.”
Partnering with the CGC
Renata appreciates all of the knowledge and resources that the CGC is able to share with her. “I wouldn't be able to get by without the help of the CGC volunteers, the knowledge that they bring, and the tools, ideas, and seeds that they so generously provide,” she said.
While Renata considers herself a novice gardener, she also delights in how much she’s learned in the past couple of years. “The biggest take away from this experience has been that you can't do it alone. Asking for help, and accepting help, is truly the only to develop a successful garden.”
The CGC is happy to help teachers like Renata acquire the skills and resources they need to run a successful school garden program. School gardens can make lasting differences in the lives of children. The lessons taught through these outdoor learning laboratories transcend gardening to impact children, their families and entire communities for years to come.