Annette Winn Elementary School is cultivating young minds through a gardening program, thanks
to an educator grant awarded to Media Specialist Lisa Burtz.
Burtz’s PAGE (Professional Association of Georgia Educators) grant funded a Gardyn hydroponic growing system. Each year, the PAGE Educator Grant program awards up to $100,000 to members throughout the state. Burtz’s application was one of only five selected from 172 schools.
“Several years ago, I was inspired by a hydroponic garden system at a high school and dreamed of having one in my own media center,” said Burtz.
But before purchasing the Gardyn Studio, she met with Kimberly Benford, the Career and Technical Education (CTE) chair at Lithia Springs High School.
“I am so grateful that Ms. Benford and her students graciously shared valuable insights and practical advice gained from their experience with the Gardyn Home system,” Burtz explained
The system supports 16 plants, allowing students to grow their own salad while studying plant life cycles. Prior to introducing the growing system, Burtz taught a lesson on the life cycle of plants and the three requirements for growth: water, sunlight, and nutrients in the soil. As students placed pods into the Gardyn system, they learned how the system provides water, light, and nutrients for each plant.
According to Burtz, the new Gardyn system has transformed the media center into an interactive learning environment. By combining traditional plant biology lessons with modern growing techniques, Annette Winn Elementary School second-grade students are quickly gaining hands-on experience in sustainable agriculture technology.