Our mission is to provide students with the knowledge and skills to lead healthy and sustainable lifestyles through our Embedded Agriculture program. Our program offers hands-on gardening and farming experiences that promote environmental stewardship, while also integrating farm-to-table education into the school curriculum. Through our Family and Consumer Science courses, we strive to educate students on the importance of nutrition, food safety, and cooking skills to create healthy and sustainable meals. We are committed to promoting food justice and providing equitable access to fresh, locally-grown produce for all students. Our goal is to inspire a lifelong appreciation for healthy eating habits, sustainable food systems, and community involvement.
E.B. Shurts Outdoor Garden
Established in the spring of 2020, our outdoor garden combines growing spaces with outdoor classroom features and offers an incredible space for students to explore and understand where our food comes from.
E.B. Shurts Greenhouse
A greenhouse was constructed adjacent to the garden space in the summer of 2021. The greenhouse significantly extends our growing season and allows students hands-on opportunities and learning experiences.
E.B. Shurts Hydroponic Garden
In the spring of 2022, the E.B. Shurts Center received a 24-unit hydroponic grow station through a grant with Lettuce Grow. This resource allows us to diversify our embedded agriculture tool-kit and bring learning opportunities to students all throughout the year.
High School Hydroponics Program - Fork Farms
Beginning in the fall of 2022, the Environmental Education team partnered with West High School to expand fresh ingredient growing opportunities within the culinary classes offered there. What started with one Lettuce Grow unit has grown into a Fork Farms' Flex Farm unit at each of the three district high schools for use in their FACS classes. Read more about this collaboration in our Embedded Ag Newsletter.
Community Partnerships
Many community partnerships assist in garden management and upkeep, including students from Carroll University, City of Waukesha volunteers, and many student volunteer and service-learning groups throughout the year.
Future Planning
Our garden committee works hard to envision future possibilities for our garden space. Upcoming improvements will include an ADA-accessible path connecting the garden to our building, expanded sensory gardens, an outdoor play space, and additional edible forest plantings.
