Ask a sixth-grade student at Kraybill Mennonite School how long it takes a beet seed to germinate, and she can tell you. Chances are, every student at Kraybill can tell you something specific about gardening thanks to a collaboration between parent volunteers, teachers and The Edible Classroom, a Washington Boro-based organization. Kraybill installed a school garden earlier this year, and every day students get outside to get their hands dirty while learning.

The Kraybill garden came together after a chance meeting between Grace Julian, who runs The Edible Classroom with Beth Horst, and a parent at Kraybill. They started talking about gardening, and the parent mentioned that Kraybill would love to have a garden. It just so happened that The Edible Classroom was looking for a space to create a community garden, since its other spaces in the county are school-specific. Although this garden is located at Kraybill, it will be the site of a summer camp open to the community this summer.

Kraybill principal MJ Smith loved the idea of a school garden, and soon parent volunteer Aja Sides was on board. It turned out both Julian and Sides are certified Penn State Extension Master Gardeners, and they quickly bonded over their shared love of plants. Sides' husband built raised garden beds in front of the school; families donated watering cans, hoses and tools; and within weeks, the garden was ready for students.

"When this whole idea first started, I wasn't quite sure how it was going to go, but everything fell right into place," Sides remarked. "We've had no hiccups. That just signals that this garden was meant to be."

Led by The Edible Classroom staff, students will be planting various crops including radishes, peas, beets, kale, tomatoes, corn, peppers and squash. Pollinator gardens will be planted at the corners of the garden to attract bees and butterflies.

For seventh-grader Nathan Shertzer, the garden offers a chance to do something he really loves. "It's fun to watch the plants grow and to taste the food (we harvest)," he said, adding that he hopes to continue to help with the garden over the summer.

Abby Keller, a sixth-grader, noted that gardening makes her happy. "I like the daily routine. I like planting, watering, watching the seeds grow into plants and then enjoying the product," she stated.

The garden is providing students with more than meets the eye. "They are experiencing gardening as much more than just a little seed," Sides remarked. "Every person should have the opportunity to see the positive effects of a garden, to get their hands dirty and to see what comes out of your hard work."

As principal, Smith is excited to see all the ways the garden is impacting her students. "The garden is providing an opportunity to promote healthy eating, but it's also providing hands-on science," she shared.

Students will enjoy the rewards of their efforts when they harvest the early produce later this month and have an opportunity to taste a salad made from what they planted.

"There is something very healing about being outside, digging in the dirt," Smith said. "It's a wonderful way to help our kids connect to the Earth."

The Edible Classroom will hold a summer camp at the Kraybill garden, 598 Kraybill Church Road, Mount Joy, on Monday, July 5, through Friday, July 9, from 9 a.m. to noon. For more information on the camp or on The Edible Classroom, visit http://www.theedibleclassroom.org.