The Friends in Gardening (FiG) Award, initiated by the Central Texas School Garden Network, has found its 2024 champion in Joelle Don De’Ville, an advocate for horticultural engagements among school communities and a teacher heralded for her spirited commitment to educational gardens. According to the announcement by the Office of Sustainability, De’Ville’s work at Gorzycki Middle School has not only beautified the grounds but has also seeded a connection between the earth and the young minds entrusted in her care.
Colleague and nominator Carolyn Finkler calls De’Ville a "garden warrior," underscoring her influence in attracting myriad student groups including the National Junior Honor Society, Girl Scouts, and Peer Assistance Leadership and Service to voluntarily tend to the garden, a task that encompasses everything from planting to caring for farm animals De’Ville goes beyond this by innovating inclusivity in the form of the AAA: Agriculture for All Abilities garden, designed to be accessible for Life Skills students, as Finkler detailed in an interview obtained by the Office of Sustainability.
The garden under De’Ville’s guidance has evolved into a synergistic hub where creativity and cross-disciplinary learning thrive; from creative writing classes exploring transcendentalism amidst the flora to art students transforming metal tubs into vibrant plant containers. The partnership with the culinary class stands out as a prime example of De’Ville’s version of experiential learning, where the cultivation of produce in the garden directly complements the culinary skills taught in the kitchen, culminating in dishes that make students proudly claim superiority over commercial equivalents, all part of a reciprocal educational dance she orchestrates with grace.
The significance of De’Ville’s efforts is perhaps best summarized in her own words, shared in a statement with the Office of Sustainability where she says, "My students are my true inspiration," adding that they are the breathing example of the adage that what is invested today pays dividends in the future, acknowledging the deeper impact garden-based education has on developing minds. Recognized for her distinguished service, De’Ville received a $50 Central Market gift card, a certificate, and the much-envied Golden Gnome trophy while her engagement is a gentle nudge for those considering the Bright Green Future Grants program for greening school campuses more about this initiative can be explored through the Office of Sustainability.
Amidst an era marked by digital screens and urban sprawl, the case of Joelle Don De’Ville serves as a beacon, as she plants and nurtures not just botanical life, but also the seeds of responsibility, stewardship, and care in the fertile minds of the next generation.
