ECP children learn and play in a garden. Credit: Juanita Dillard

By Christiana Huerta and Risa Ferdman

The Zeifman Family Early Childhood Program’s beautiful new Amy & Kirk Rudy ECP Play Area features a range of outdoor activities, including garden beds which have inspired a group of teachers to establish a school gardening program. This process began in late October 2025 with the support and guidance of ECP parent, Michelle Hockett Cooper, associate professor of instruction, UT School of Nutritional Sciences, who has generously shared her wealth of knowledge about gardening and education.

Gardening with children helps promote health, responsibility, and connection. When they have an active role in planting, tending, and harvesting, children are often more willing to try new and healthy foods.  ECP preschool-aged classes share responsibility for soil preparation, planting, and watering. Collaborating on tending the garden helps build community. In addition, children often miss the connection between their food and nature. By growing, harvesting, and cooking their school-grown produce, the children become aware of the connection between our earth and the foods they consume. 

While learning about the Jewish holiday of Tu B’Sh’vat, the New Year of the Trees, ECP children planted various seeds and beans for spring garden transplanting. And now, they wait, watching daily with great curiosity to see the changes that occur!

In addition to these seeds and beans, the first crop season includes green leafy vegetables, carrots, onions, and potatoes. Soon there will also be a wildflower garden maintained by our two-year-olds, and future plans include herb container gardening for the infants and toddlers.

Through gardening, children practice the Jewish value of Tikkun Olam (working to improve the world) by tending the land, respecting nature, and learning how small acts of care help make the world a little less in need of repair. The Jewish value of Bal Tashchit, environmentalism, comes from the Torah. It is written that the Israelites were told to plant trees and crops immediately upon settling in the Land of Israel.

Through teamwork, diligence, and accountability, the ECP children and teachers care for our world, nourish themselves, and sprout into a beautiful learning community.