Learning In the Garden at Truxton Academy Charter School

Truxton Academy is a new, tuition-free, public charter school serving Cortland, Madison,

Onondaga, Tompkins, and surrounding counties opening Kindergarten through 2nd grade. We will expand one grade per year up to 6th grade. Students at Truxton Academy Charter School benefit from opportunities to garden.  As part of our school’s rural life lab we will start this year with an outdoor garden and three indoor “Growing Towers”.  Our gardening opportunities will grow as our school does. Students will play an integral part in planning these gardens and grow food that they will get to eat! 

Through our “Taste the Garden” food program, students will get to try new fruits and vegetables, many of which will be grown by them. Gardening has many benefits beyond just the ability to grow healthy food.  At Truxton Academy, our gardens allow students to learn in a variety of spaces outside the traditional classroom.  Lifelong learners are created when students have opportunities to see that learning is an ongoing process of inquiry and discovery that can happen anywhere.  Gardening helps students understand the natural world and develops environmental stewardship. Our students will take ownership of the gardening spaces and build self-esteem and confidence through our gardening activities.  This will lead them to build leadership skills which benefit them in the future. We already have pumpkins and squash varieties growing for our students to harvest in the fall.