The Learning Gardens Laboratory: Cultivating Knowledge, Community, and Resilience
The Learning Gardens Laboratory (LGL) stands as a testament to the power of hands-on, place-based education, fostering leadership, community engagement, and a deep connection to sustainable food systems. Nestled within the diverse and working-class Brentwood-Darlington neighborhood in Southeast Portland, the LGL is more than just a garden; it is a vibrant educational ecosystem that has been cultivating knowledge and resilience for nearly two decades. This 12-acre greenspace, known as the Green Thumb site, has evolved into a dynamic hub for learners of all ages, demonstrating how the simple act of growing food can address complex social, ecological, and educational challenges.
Genesis and Evolution of a Green Initiative
The roots of the Learning Gardens initiative can be traced back to 2002 at Portland State University (PSU), specifically within the Graduate School of Education's Leadership for Sustainability Education (LSE) program. Spearheaded by Dr. Dilafruz Williams and Dr. Pramod Parajuli, the program's vision was to integrate learning gardens into school settings, fostering environmental literacy and community connection. This early vision was supported by grants and dedicated staff, leading to the establishment of numerous learning gardens in partnership with schools across Portland.
The formal establishment of the Learning Gardens Laboratory as a distinct entity occurred in 2005. With crucial support from an Environmental Protection Agency grant, learning gardens were developed and sustained at Lewis Elementary School, Buckman Elementary School, and Edwards Elementary School within the Portland Public School District, operating from 2005 to 2008. This foundational period laid the groundwork for the LGL's expansion and its enduring commitment to hands-on, experiential learning.
The ongoing success and development of the LGL have been bolstered by a consistent stream of grants and dedicated research initiatives. Faculty members such as Dr. Dilafruz Williams, Dr. Heather Burns, and Dr. Sybil Kelley have been instrumental in guiding and supporting these endeavors. The National Science Foundation has funded research from 2014-2018 focusing on "Science in the Learning Gardens: Factors that Support Racial and Ethnic Minority Students’ Success in Low-Income Middle Schools." Further research, including the "Science in the Learning Gardens research and AERA program development" project, has been supported by the Institute for Sustainable Solutions at Portland State University.
The Spencer Foundation has also provided significant backing, funding "Garden-Based Learning in Green Ribbon Schools: Case Studies of Exemplary Schools" (2012-2013) and another key project in 2010-2011. Earlier support from the Oregon Community Foundation (2007-2008) facilitated "Curriculum and Teacher Development for Learning Gardens: Academic Achievement, Multiculturalism, and Health." Additional funding from entities like the Comcast/Portland Schools Foundation grant (2006-2009), the Environmental Protection Agency (2005-2009) for "Learning Gardens K-8: Innovations in Food-based Ecological Education Design to promote Academic Achievement, Ecoliteracy, Health and Wellness," the Metro Nature in the Neighborhood Program (2006-2007), and the City of Portland (2005-2006) for the "60th Avenue Learning Gardens Laboratory: Health, Multiculturalism, and Academic Achievement" have collectively enabled the LGL to grow and deepen its impact.
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The Learning Gardens Laboratory: A Model of Community-Based Education
At its core, the Learning Gardens Laboratory is a 12-acre garden education site situated in Southeast Portland. It provides K-12 students, university students, and community members with invaluable hands-on and place-based education in sustainable gardening, healthy nutrition, and permaculture. The LGL serves as a tangible model of community-based education, utilizing the garden itself as a practical learning tool.
A significant partnership exists with Lane Middle School, located just across the street from the Green Thumb site. Graduate students enrolled in PSU's Leadership for Sustainability Education (LSE) Program facilitate weekly garden-based science curriculum for Lane Middle School students, collaborating closely with dedicated science teacher partners. This program engages over 175 Lane Middle School students from diverse racial, cultural, and socio-economic backgrounds each week. Through direct, hands-on experience, these students learn the intricate processes of growing and harvesting food, the science behind cooking with whole foods, and the profound importance of good nutrition and healthy eating habits.
The impact of this partnership extends beyond the garden beds. For several years, a research team from Portland State University’s Psychology department, led by Dr. Ellen Skinner, conducted extensive quantitative research on the collaboration between the LSE program and Lane Middle School. Their focus was on understanding how participation at the Learning Gardens Lab influences middle school students' motivation and academic achievement. The findings were compelling: students more engaged in the Learning Gardens also demonstrated improved academic performance in school. Notably, even with high stability in overall student achievement, engagement in the gardens during the fall predicted improvements in academic outcomes throughout the school year. Furthermore, engagement at the LGL fostered increased engagement not only in science but in school more broadly. These findings hold particular significance for the students in the study, many of whom are at-risk for poor school performance due to their socioeconomic status, minority background, and immigrant status, as documented in Skinner's 2010 research.
Complementing the student curriculum, Graduate Assistants from the LSE program also coordinate the Lane Family Learning Garden. This initiative empowers Lane Middle School families to learn how to grow their own food. Coordinators provide essential support, assisting families with preparing land, planting seeds and starts, maintaining their plots, and ultimately harvesting vegetables. Beyond direct family engagement, the LGL, in collaboration with PSU graduate students, OSU Master Gardeners, and other dedicated volunteers, harvests surplus produce from the Learning Gardens Lab. This bounty is then distributed to local food banks and schools, reaching families in need within the community.
Portland State University further leverages the LGL through an average of 8-10 senior Capstone service-learning classes offered annually. These courses, such as "Sustainable Food Systems and Learning Gardens" and "Civic Affairs," allow students to complete meaningful service-learning projects that contribute directly to the development and maintenance of the LGL site, all while gaining practical knowledge about sustainable gardening practices.
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Partnerships with Oregon State University’s Extension Service are also vital. OSU Extension experts demonstrate sustainable, organic farming techniques at the LGL through the Beginning Urban Farmer Apprenticeship Program, in collaboration with Multnomah County. Additionally, OSU Extension staff provide training and mentorship in horticulture to students from the Community Transition Center, a Portland Public School program located on-site.
The Green Thumb Site: A Hub of Collaboration and Cultivation
The Learning Gardens Laboratory is an integral part of the larger 12-acre Green Thumb site, a greenspace rich in history and community collaboration. Historically, this land was cared for by indigenous nations of Oregon, including the Cayuse, Clackamas, Cowlitz, Umatilla, and Walla Walla peoples. The site remains unceded, contestable indigenous land under the stewardship of the Portland city government. Through the 1950s, the area functioned as a dairy farm. In 1974, it was transformed into the Green Thumb, a horticultural and vocational education program serving Portland Public School students city-wide. Today, the Green Thumb site is jointly owned by Portland Public Schools and Portland Parks and Recreation, fostering a diverse range of community-focused initiatives.
The site is home to numerous garden spaces, cultivating vegetables, fruits, and ornamental plants across its 3.4 acres. Some of these gardens are tended by Lane Middle School students, while others serve as production beds managed by PSU students, collaborators from Black Futures Farm, and neighborhood families. A large greenhouse on the site provides a sheltered space for LGL activities, including workshops, seed exchanges, transplant preparations, and gatherings, while also accommodating various classes and meetings. Nearby, OSU’s Master Gardeners cultivate beautiful and educational display gardens. A substantial community orchard graces the northeast corner of the site. To the north, Portland Public Schools operates its Community Transition Center, a post-high school program designed to support students transitioning into the community.
The LGL's programming is largely coordinated by a dedicated staff team comprising graduate students from PSU’s Leadership for Sustainability Education (LSE) program, as well as students from other relevant graduate programs like the Sustainable Food Systems Certificate. After nearly two decades as a program of PSU, the LGL is undergoing a significant transition, becoming an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in continued partnership with Portland State.
What the Learning Gardens Laboratory Does: A Multifaceted Approach
The Learning Gardens Laboratory engages in a wide array of activities designed to foster learning, build community, and promote sustainability:
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- Garden-Based Science & Sustainability Education: Direct, hands-on science and sustainability education is provided to Lane Middle School students, connecting them with ecological principles and food systems.
- Professional Development: Opportunities for professional development are offered to PK-12 educators, equipping them with the skills and knowledge to integrate garden-based learning into their own classrooms.
- Service-Learning Capstone Courses: Over 100 PSU students annually participate in service-learning capstone courses, contributing to the LGL's development and maintenance while gaining practical experience.
- Food Security Initiatives: Weekly donations of fresh produce are made to PSU, Woodstock, and BDNA food pantries, directly addressing food insecurity within the community.
- Digital Storytelling Projects: PSU freshmen engage in digital storytelling projects as part of a year-long course, documenting and sharing their experiences and learning.
- Hands-on Gardening and Sustainable Living Skills: Local neighbors are invited to participate in hands-on gardening and learn sustainable living skills in the Lane Family Garden.
- Community Harvest Share & Farmstand: From May through October, fresh produce grown at the LGL is made available for weekly purchase through the Community Harvest Share program and farmstand.
- Annual Community Celebrations: The LGL hosts vibrant annual events, including the Autumn Harvest Festival and the April Earth People’s Fair, bringing the community together to celebrate the harvest and environmental stewardship.
Embracing the Future: Resilience and Regenerative Practices
In the face of ongoing global challenges, including climate change, pandemics, wildfires, and extreme weather events, the Learning Gardens Laboratory remains steadfast in its mission to cultivate local and community resilience. The LGL proved to be essential infrastructure during recent lockdowns, highlighting the vital importance of its work. As the world emerges from these challenges, the LGL is welcoming the Brentwood-Darlington and Portland State communities back for in-person educational activities and volunteer opportunities.
The commitment to providing fresh, high-quality, and affordable produce continues to be a cornerstone of the LGL's operations. The organization strives to learn and adapt through its practices, focusing on building healthy soils, nurturing strong relationships, and strengthening the community. The LGL staff is enthusiastic about offering socially responsible workshops, events, plant and food sales, volunteer hours, and classes. Support for these endeavors can be provided through tax-deductible donations.
The mission of the Learning Gardens Laboratory is clear: to foster leadership for learners of all ages through experiential garden-based education, deep reciprocity with the land, and active engagement in local sustainable food systems. This mission is brought to life by the dedicated staff, students, and volunteers who embody the spirit of collaboration and a shared commitment to a more sustainable and equitable future.
Portland Community College's Learning Gardens: Expanding Access and Opportunity
Beyond PSU, the concept of learning gardens has taken root at Portland Community College (PCC), with learning gardens established on each campus and at its Newberg Center. These spaces are accessible to all PCC students, staff, and faculty, offering a variety of work parties and volunteer opportunities. The PCC Learning Gardens provide students with invaluable hands-on outdoor learning experiences and access to fresh food grown on-site.
These gardens are designed to be safe, welcoming, and educational spaces, built by and for students. They actively promote interdisciplinary academic achievement, leadership development, and curricular and co-curricular engagement. By modeling sustainable food systems through dynamic and responsive hands-on education, PCC's learning gardens are cultivating a new generation of environmentally conscious individuals.
PCC also offers specialized workshops, such as an indoor herbs and microgreens workshop, which can accommodate up to 15 students per session. These workshops delve into the intricacies of indoor cultivation, covering aspects like natural light, ideal temperatures, successful watering techniques, pruning, and harvesting. Participants receive educational materials and starter kits to take home, fostering continued learning and practice.
The PCC Learning Gardens are actively seeking volunteers and are often hiring for positions within their garden programs. The PCC Environmental Center plays a crucial role in promoting sustainability, education, and action, inviting students to actively protect and sustain their local and global communities.
Several dedicated individuals are at the forefront of PCC's Learning Gardens. Moonrose, the Learning Garden Coordinator for the Cascade and Southeast gardens, focuses on ensuring students have access to free, healthy food through donations to the PCC Panther Pantries. They are passionate about food sovereignty and related justice issues, drawing from personal experience with food insecurity. Moonrose's expertise also extends to teaching PCC Community Education classes on topics like Companion Planting, Organic Gardening, and Native Plant Garden Design. They are also an accomplished urban farmer and practitioner of herbal medicine.
Hailey, who has been involved in urban school gardens since 2019, is passionate about empowering people to grow fresh food within city limits, promoting sustainability, accessibility, and community connection. Stephanie Romero, a PCC graduate with a background in agriculture, now serves as the PCC Newberg Center’s Learning Garden Coordinator, sharing her extensive knowledge of orchard and vineyard management with students and the community through engaging events and activities.
Miriam brings over 12 years of experience managing small, certified naturally grown farms and holds a Master’s Degree in Environmental Land Use Planning. Her work has included piloting school-based farm share programs in New York City and serving as an assistant grower and educational coordinator. Her return to the Portland area, where she previously served as an AmeriCorps member, allows her to contribute her expertise to PCC's Learning Garden and sustainability efforts.
Dr. Peter Ritson, with over three decades of educational experience, has been the Environmental Center Coordinator and Sylvania Learning Garden Coordinator at PCC since 2014. An accomplished environmental scientist and educator, Dr. Ritson is deeply committed to experiential learning and community involvement, believing in the power of connecting people with nature to foster sustainable choices for a healthier future.
The PCC Learning Gardens, like the LGL at PSU, are vital spaces for hands-on learning, community building, and the promotion of sustainable food systems, demonstrating a widespread commitment to these principles across educational institutions in the region.
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