Worldlink - Southcoast of Oregon, USA Saturday, February 25, 2006 Madison students planning a garden
By Elise Hamner, City Editor There's something about kids and dirt. Sure, they like to play in it, but gradeschoolers in Empire want to do more than play. They want to create a school garden. There would be raised beds for growing vegetables and fruits, and they would share extra space with the community. And while the dream is a ways from reality, Madison Elementary School's children already are digging into the science of it. Oh gosh, they love it. We've been digging up pots of soil to figure out what kinds of ants and worms actually live in the dirt, said third-grade teacher Ann Marineau. Students also are planting radish seeds to find out about the different soil and water conditions the plants prefer. We can do hands-on science curriculum, she said. They hope to start garden construction next month in the grassy area between the street and parking lot. The school is amassing donated supplies and helpers. (See sidebar for items needed.) Already, students have lined the walls in the halls with donated cement blocks that will be used to build a retaining wall. The school's busy teachers and studious youngsters aren't doing all the work themselves. There's a gopher of sorts at work here, too - AmeriCorps volunteer Stephanie Danyi. She is coordinating the effort since AmeriCorps requires her to complete a community action project. While Danyi is based at the South Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve, she's assisting teachers, writing letters to parents and others, gathering recycled potting containers and finding gardening curriculum that addresses all the core skills - math, reading, writing, even nutrition. And, she wants more help. We're going to be needing volunteers to construct the garden beds, Danyi said. They are planning to build raised or boxed beds to make the garden more accessible to people with disabilities and to help keep nutrients from leaching as quickly through the very porous soil. Danyi wants to involve the Coos County-Oregon State University Extension Service's Master Gardeners, and Marineau wants to start a 4-H garden club during the afterschool program. Students also will design the garden logo through a contest. At this point, we're trying to gather resources so we can have our groundbreaking next month, Danyi said. Once the students stake out their territory, the remaining garden space will be opened to people in the community. Come summer, Danyi and the school are hoping community gophers will help weed and water the garden in exchange, perhaps, for homegrown snacks. ______________________________________________________ The American Community Gardening Association listserve is only one of ACGA's services to community gardeners. To learn more about the ACGA and to find out how to join, please go to http://www.communitygarden.org To post an e-mail to the list: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your subscription: https://secure.mallorn.com/mailman/listinfo/community_garden
