WUSA9 Coverage of WWS Garden & Goats

Last week WWS hosted goats from the Midatlantic Homestead Farm to prepare the school’s garden for the coming year.

The visit was covered by WUSA9 News.

The school and farm are developing a partnership where the school will expand their agricultural offerings and the farm will develop educational programs. In addition to clearing and fertilizing the garden, the students will have learning opportunities with the goats from social-emotional connections for our preschool students through seniors and their study of human ecology.

Through the school year, the garden is tended by students as part of the Grade 3 agriculture curriculum which is one aspect of a year-long holistic study of how humans have fed, sheltered, and clothed themselves throughout history. The curriculum is designed to meet the 8-9 year olds who are at a turning point in their awareness of themselves as individuals and their relationship to the greater world. The Grade 4 curriculum includes an in-depth study of animals and this program will also be a bridge for that class to stay connected to the garden they tended last year.

Jennifer Robinson, Lower School Gardening & Middle School Chemistry teacher, explained: 

“The garden is overgrown and needs to be reclaimed. Bringing the goats to work with us is a way for the students to experience the possibilities and benefits of regenerative agriculture. The weeds feed the goats, the goats fertilize the soil before planting, and then the harvest feeds us. What a beautiful way to experience the relationship between all living things!”

Last year some of the produce from the Grade 3 garden was used by our school Chef, Eron Picus, as part of the Good Food Lunch Program which is focused on providing healthy lunches and using biodynamic/organic/local ingredients whenever possible. Photos from last year’s Grade 3 below.