Washington School Garden Survives Summer
The new garden installed at Washington Primary School last spring has so far survived the long and at times brutally hot summer. The large plot, situated behind the gymnasium in an open courtyard area near the library windows, is packed with vegetable and herb plants, as well as flowers.
Washington's garden committee has been responsible for creating a watering schedule to keep the plants thriving. A small group of volunteers has been watering and weeding during July and August.
The garden contains zucchini, peppers, cucumbers, tomatoes, carrots, corn, peas, oregano and parsley, along with flowers. In the weeks leading up to the summer vacation, classes of students regularly watered the area each day. Students took delight in notrign the progress of the growing plants.
Washington School Principal Marsha Neville has been a strong supporter of the initiative and played a key role in organizing the committee that has been responsible for it. She said she thinks the finished product is "great."
The gardening committee helped hammer out the details concerning the garden's creation. After a site had been selected, district workers prepared the plot, loosening the soil with machines and by hand. The ground was found to be very hard, making the job more difficult.
Students helped install a brick border to frame out the area. Large pavers were placed in an intersecting pattern in the middle of the garden. A low fence was installed around it to keep out animals and to protect plants.
The garden area is not sheltered and with week-after-week of 90+ degree days, the plants could have easily succumbed had it not been for the vigilance of the volunteers who committed to regularly watering the plot and keeping an eye on it.
Teachers will be able to utilize the garden to teach students about good eating habits, healthy living, the seasons, environmental responsibility and related topics.
"The idea of having a school garden is an excellent on and provides countless opportunities for interesting lessons," Superintendent John J. Finello said.
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