R.J. Burch Elementary School and Hopewell United Methodist Church in Tyrone, Georgia have partnered together to create a multipurpose outdoor classroom focused on growing organic food and supporting a healthy ecosystem. Begun in response to requests from the English as Second Language teachers, the garden has produced spring crops such as radishes, carrots, lettuces, onions, and peas. Summer crops have included cucumbers, zucchini, corn, sunflowers, sweet potatoes, and watermelons. Flowers, herbs, and other companion plants are included in the garden to ensure a balanced and rich ecosystem, and cover crops are planted whenever the beds need to be renewed. Teachers and children throughout the school are involved.
Garden Guidelines
- Emphasis on vegetable families and companion plants.
- Includes the broader ecosystem--including native plants, pollinators, plant predators, climate/weather issues.
- Soil enriched with compost and organic fertilizers.
- No herbicides.
- Strategy of integrated pest management (IPM), with minimal use of organic pesticides.
Funding
The church's major contribution was garden design and labor, along with blocks, paint, and fencing. Burch's principal applied for and received a grant to cover the cost of organic compost and the irrigation system essential to the success of the garden. Individual teachers provide seed and plants.
Timeline
Summer 2014: Initial contacts between leadership of church and school. Idea of school garden presented by ESOL teachers.
Fall 2014: Land cleared and raised beds installed.
January 2015: Organic compost placed in beds.
March 2015: Some classes begin planting.
Summer 2015: Deer fence installed.
Summer 2015: Sitting wall put in place to facilitate class instruction.
Since Fall 2015: Systematic use of garden.
The church's major contribution was garden design and labor, along with blocks, paint, and fencing. Burch's principal applied for and received a grant to cover the cost of organic compost and the irrigation system essential to the success of the garden. Individual teachers provide seed and plants.
Timeline
Summer 2014: Initial contacts between leadership of church and school. Idea of school garden presented by ESOL teachers.
Fall 2014: Land cleared and raised beds installed.
January 2015: Organic compost placed in beds.
March 2015: Some classes begin planting.
Summer 2015: Deer fence installed.
Summer 2015: Sitting wall put in place to facilitate class instruction.
Since Fall 2015: Systematic use of garden.
Supporting Initiatives
Books. While the garden was under construction, Hopewell church members collected and donated new and gently used books on gardens and gardening to Burch's Media Center. Over 30 titles, for pre-K readers to adult gardeners, were provided to support working with plants. Individual church members pledged to read some of these to children before school, during class time, and in the AfterSchool Program. An annotated bibliography of these books is available online here and in the Media Center. Tools and Materials. To encourage hands-on learning, Hopewell members also donated child-sized and adult tools for use in the garden--including watering cans, trowels, rakes, shovels, and hoes. Activity center materials such as thermometers, rain gauges, and bird houses supported teacher-led outdoor learning projects. |