Our purpose is to start a school-community garden at Wakefield Elementary School.  Our vision for our garden includes an organic raised-bed vegetable garden designed, built, maintained, and harvested by our elementary students, with support from a network of educators, parents, and community members. We aim to raise students' awareness of healthy foods, the resources that go into growing food crops, and foster an early love for gardening. In addition to the vegetable garden, we envision a native plant and pollinator garden adjacent to our vegetable garden.  This garden will teach students about the interconnectedness of the ecosystem, their role in it, cultivate a connection to nature, combat plant blindness, and give students the opportunity for primary, citizen science research. The native plant garden will also serve as a demonstration garden for community members to learn more about the beauty and benefits of native plants. We believe that getting students outdoors, in direct, meaningful contact with nature, will foster an early respect and appreciation for the natural world.  By starting early "eco conscious" and "green" lifestyles will be second nature to students as they grow. This awareness and lifestyle will be the norm, rather than the exception to it. The School Garden Group is a sub committee of the Wakefield Elementary School PTO.