10/17/2023
For 30 years AmeriCorps members across the country have been making positive change in the communities they serve. As we reflect on 30 years of service, we think about all of the amazing LEAP AmeriCorps members who have dedicated time and effort into expanding educational opportunities for youth in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont. During our 30th year, we want to spend more time highlighting these members and the impact they made.
From 2021-2023, Emma Trainor served at Green Mountain Farm to School where she cultivated gardens at schools, expanded their knowledge of nutrition and food systems and facilitated the exploration of food production with youth in the NEK. During her term of service, Emma was able to advocate for an outdoor space dedicated to the mental wellbeing of students and established a Grief Garden in collaboration with Glover Community School. Emma shared the story of the Grief Garden with us:
“We brainstormed and discussed ideas, and decided to create five garden beds, each representing one of the five stages of grief (denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance.) We found a local volunteer who works with youth on carpentry projects to build the five beds with scrap wood that GMFTS had stored. In the springtime, I spent time with two fifth graders who are enthusiastic about projects focused on environmental justice to write a grant for our grief garden, which we also planned to fill with pollinator plants. This was a national grant targeted for youth ages 5-12, and to our pleasant surprise, these students won the $500! We got many of the materials for the beds donated, such as paint, soil, plants and mulch, and were able to use the money for a bird bath, a bench, berry bushes and wind chimes as well as landscaping material to line the beds with. The 5th graders who won the grant painted the beds rainbow colors and some students painted rocks to add to the space as well. The garden at Glover is looking more beautiful than ever and the project was empowering for everyone involved! Hopefully the space is used and enjoyed by future coordinators, students, community members and guidance counselors to support learning on topics of emotional well being and the importance of pollinators, and appreciation for nature.”
Emma combined her passion for wellbeing with her pursuit of garden education and created a unique space that students at Glover Community School will be benefitting from for many years.
