The Captain Planet Foundation has launched summer garden management as part of its Learning Gardens Program to help maintain school gardens around metro-Atlanta during the out-of-school summer months. This summer, the program is supporting over 40 school gardens located in Cobb County Public Schools and the Atlanta Public School system.
With funding provided by Arthur M. Blank’s Atlanta Falcons Youth Foundation, we’ve hired four truly incredible interns to help school garden coordinators weed, water, plant, harvest [summer produce for the Atlanta Community Food Bank] and refurbish school learning gardens. Interns were chosen from applicants at the Atlanta Community Food Bank and Truly Living Well Center for Natural Urban Agriculture.
When the Fall semester comes, students will return to plant-able beds for winter veggies and ready-to- harvest beds with fall produce; in other words, beds that are ready for teaching and learning!
We asked our very first class of Learning Garden Planeteer Interns about themselves and why they wanted to be Planeteers…
Ain Chike
Seeking safe and healthy alternatives to modern medical practices, Ain Chike set out to learn herbal ways of healing. She joined the Truly Living Well’s Urban Grower program to learn the practical application of gardening.
Why did you want to work for Captain Planet?
I wanted to work for Captain Planet because I enjoyed the cartoon as a child and figured that I could help spread Captain Planet’s message of environmental awareness. Also, I wanted to be a Planteer!
What is your favorite part of the Captain Planet Learning Gardens Internship so far?
My favorite part is seeing the community come out to help us on major work days. I find that children and adults alike are excited to “play in the dirt” and everyone is willing to do their part to beautify the area. Its great seeing people come together in that way. It’s a good vibration.
Bethaney Harrington
While attending Emory University, Bethaney fell in love with the hopeful idealism and the tangible possibilities of community building and social change. Following her passion to see communities revived through sustainable development led her to apply for the Captain Planet Learning Gardens Internship.
Why did you want to work for Captain Planet?
I wanted to work for the summer garden program because it was an opportunity for me to learn about the many ways that farms and gardens serve schools and cities. I have been interested in the urban agriculture movement for a couple of years now and could not pass up and opportunity to learn so much!
What is your favorite part of the Captain Planet Learning Gardens Internship so far?
My favorite part of the internship so far, has been the excitement of acquiring an entirely new, and life-changing, skill set. It’s fun to be able to walk around Atlanta and identity so much of the greenery and foliage that I see. I have learned so much so quickly, simply from hands on experience, and that’s been exhilarating!
Brandon Crumsey
Brandon Crumsey is currently a graduate student pursuing a Masters of Sustainability degree at Chatham University in Pittsburgh, PA. He holds a bachelors degree in plant science from Fort Valley State University, where he developed a strong interest in agriculture and community development.
Why did you want to work for Captain Planet?
I wanted to work for the Captain Planet Summer Garden Program because it provides interactive garden experience, creative flexibility to implement innovative gardening techniques, promotes healthy lifestyles to communities, specifically the youth, and allows me to be an educator to others.
What is your favorite part of the Captain Planet Learning Gardens Internship so far?
My favorite part of the program so far, has been the interactions with community members and the opportunity to educate them on the importance of gardening and healthy eating.”
Katelyn Gordon
Katelyn Gordon studied biology at Georgia Tech. Love of science and a growing interest in what she put into her body led her to pursue growing food. After a few seasons of backyard gardening she enrolled in Truly Living Well’s Urban Grower program.
Why did you want to work for Captain Planet?
I wanted to work for the Captain Planet Summer Garden program because it is a great opportunity to continue to grow food while engaging with many different garden sizes, challenges, assets, designs and layouts and all of the efforts I am able to put forth will directly influence school age kids all over Atlanta.
What is your favorite part of the Captain Planet Learning Gardens Internship so far?
My favorite part is the look of wonder on a kid’s face when I am able to engage them and teach them something new about how food grows.