Joseph Neal STEAM Academy offers an immense garden for students to use in their study of agricultural
engineering. Aligned with our educational standards, it provides a unique learning experience through
hands-on activities. Students are tasked with selecting appropriate crops to be grown in local conditions,
sowing seeds and maintaining the plants during the growth cycle. Students are then rewarded with a
successful harvest of their selected crops. This innovative approach to education is a great experience for
all students as the crops grow and mature just as each individual does. 

All of our students utilize the garden from kindergarten through fifth grade. We utilize a curriculum unique
to each grade level. Students learn what a seed needs to grow and flourish. They are completely
immersed in the process from choosing seeds that will grow in Las Vegas during the fall and spring, to
caring for them and researching the appropriate time to harvest. Students enjoy the fruits of their labor
through farmer's markets and sampling their vegetables. They take pride in their work and learn how to
grow their own food and sustain a healthy lifestyle. 

Our garden began from the support of Garden Farms and Green Our Planet. We started with four beds
and planted four trees. We received a grant from Lowes to expand our garden. We were able to add eight
additional beds, seal and decorate them, add a brick pathway, a teaching center and four trees. We also
removed the grass for the second phase of our garden. Currently, we are growing our very own pumpkin
patch! We would love to add additional beds in a creative way, so more students can plant. We will also
add a fence around the perimeter.

We were able to purchase a laser engraver to continue to fund our garden through the sale of
personalized pavers. They are on sale throughout the year for $20 each. These funds are used in the
garden to continue to expand and improve it. Check out our garden pathway for family and student
pavers.