Spotlight Story

Harvey Grown is an Upper School English elective where students read green literature and learn about sustainable gardening and horticulture. Sounds unique?  You bet it is! Just ask English and Harvey Grown teacher Carolyn Bean.

What inspired you to create the Harvey Grown Elective for students?

Over the years, I have noticed that students seem to be more and more disconnected from nature. This was especially true during the Covid years when students had to rely on technology for so much in their daily lives. That's when I came up with the idea for Harvey Grown. I wanted to give students the opportunity to practice life skills, get outside, and also have an academic experience. I chose gardening specifically because it checks those boxes and it also combines my background as an English teacher with my passion for nature. I think that studying gardening not only teaches students about how our environment functions, but it is a subject that students can actively participate in. So much of student learning revolves around observing a topic without fully engaging in it. I wanted to create a class that was equally academic and practical. Harvey Grown teaches students how to design their own garden, grow their own food, and create a functional budget.  

Harvey Grown is an English elective, which might seem odd to prospective students. How do you mix English and horticulture?

The skills that students need to use when they are studying literature are the same ones they will use for just about every other subject they will encounter in their lives. They need to be able to read for understanding, think critically about what they are reading, and be able to apply the concepts that they learned. The class begins with the study of various plants and sustainable gardening practices through reading green literature and current articles on the subject. One example of green literature that I use in the course is Robin Wall Kimmerer's Braiding Sweetgrass. 

How have students benefitted from your class?

Harvey Grown is a great course for any student, but I have noticed that it works really well for students who like to be more physically active and often find the traditional classroom more challenging. I have also noticed that students who have a difficult time participating in classroom discussion are more likely to have conversations in the garden. Fostering curiosity and an open dialogue where students are expected to contribute in productive ways, prompts more participation from students. All students have enjoyed being outside and feel a sense of satisfaction after working in the garden. They can actually see the impact they are making and often come back to visit the garden after the class is done. 

Who are the "Bean Team?"

The Bean Team is a group of students who help me maintain the garden areas after school. It is a simpler and more practical version of Harvey Grown. Students learn how to plant (from seeds to trees), transplant, fertilize, prune, harvest, and water the plants in the various garden areas. 

How many gardening areas do you now have on campus?

We have several gardening areas on campus. These include: the native wildflower garden by the tennis courts, the small culinary garden in the courtyard by the dining hall, various containers around campus, and we recently started planting in the gravel lot. We also plan to expand to around Shea Cottage once the greenhouse is built. The Bean Team helps maintain the garden areas.