STOCKTON — Several Washington Elementary School students who participated in an after-school gardening program have flourished significantly in the past six months thanks to their involvement at the Boggs Tract Community Farm, according to farm and school officials.

On Tuesday afternoon, seven students made the short walk to the farm from their campus at 1735 W. Sonora St. to celebrate the end of the program this school year.

The kids worked on their garden, which includes tomatoes, cucumbers, watermelons and strawberries, since November and were finally getting to munch on what they planted and marvel at how their garden had grown.

Boggs Tract Community Farm, which started in 2011, has been inviting Washington Elementary students for three years, said Susan Loyko, who serves as chairwoman of PUENTES. The first two years the program ran with help from volunteers, but it is now conducted in partnership with the University of California Cooperative Extension.

Bobby Withrow-Clark, the extension program's 4-H youth development adviser, spends one hour a week teaching the students, Loyko said.

The purpose was for kids to experience hands-on learning about science, agriculture and sustainable urban agriculture, Withrow-Clark said. The students also learned about the importance of protecting their environment and human development.

But on Tuesday, what interested the students most was the opportunity to enjoy their harvest.

As the fourth- and fifth-graders attempted to find their perfect cucumber, the eager students yelled, “Found one. Found one.” “What about this one, Mr. Bobby?” And, “Look. A big one.”

“The kids love being out here,” Loyko said.

The program is part of the farm's philosophy of learning where food comes from and creating a connection, she said. It teaches the kids why it's important to eat locally and seasonally.

“There are so many lessons you can teach growing vegetables,” Loyko said.

Washington Elementary Principal Olivia Castillo has noticed the impact working on the garden had on her students.

The vocabulary of the students, all but one are English learners, has improved, she said. They've also developed more confidence and are able to express themselves.

The staff at the farm has also worked with them to get them to understand the concepts of eating healthy, how plants grow and using proper terminology.

“It's been a really nice working experience for (students),” she said.

Every school year, at least 10 students are selected by Castillo to participate. Next year, a new group will start, and the organizers are attempting to expand the program.

The kids don't want this to end, Castillo said.

After all their labor, the kids gathered some cucumbers, strawberries, carrots and kale from the Boggs Tract Community Farm, washed the produce and made salad and cucumber water, which they enjoyed along with some carrot cupcakes and strawberries.

“You're all farmers now,” Loyko told the kids, who enjoyed their garden fare under the shade of a tree.

Fourth-grader Precious Hardy, who had no interest in eating vegetables at the start of the program, said she enjoyed learning from “Mr. Bobby” about the farm and planting beans, tomatoes and cucumbers, which she's excited to take home.

During the gathering on Tuesday, Hardy not only enjoyed her cucumber, but asked if she could try some kale and broccoli.

“Fortunately (Boggs Tract Community Farm) allowed us to have our kids out here,” Castillo said.

— Contact reporter Almendra Carpizo at (209) 546-8264 or acarpizo@recordnet.com. Follow her on twitter @AlmendraCarpizo.

Originally post at http://www.recordnet.com/article/20150526/NEWS/150529746/101012 on May. 26, 2015 at 7:01 PM