At Forest Heights Elementary, a new project is proving that the best lessons sometimes happen outside the classroom. Led by Mr. Devon Boswell and Ms. Mercedes Evans, the school’s Alternative Learning Environment (ALE) students are breaking ground on the Feeding Falcons garden—a program designed to grow life skills alongside fresh produce.
The initiative was recently jumpstarted by a grant from the Arkansas Community Foundation, made on behalf of the Arkansas Cox Charities Fund. The goal is for students to experience the full "seed to success" cycle, from initial germination to harvesting edible fruits and vegetables.
For Mr. Boswell, the project is rooted in mentorship and character building.
"Our hope is to instill a love for providing for self and others," Boswell shared. "I know personally I love the feeling I get from helping others. Whether that is as a teacher and former coach helping students push themselves, as a father being there for my own children, or just the little bit I can do for the stranger I passed on the street."
The program aims to have a tangible impact on student wellness. The harvest will eventually supplement the Friday food bags provided by the district, with long-term goals of providing a weekly salad bar for the school and year-round hydroponic strawberries.
Ultimately, the garden serves as a concrete visual of resilience and hope for the ALE students.
"We love the quote from Audrey Hepburn, 'To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow,'" said Boswell. "For so many, it is very important to have faith in a better tomorrow, and a garden can provide a concrete visual of what great things tomorrow can bring."