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REEDSVILLE — Spring has become a season of growth at Reedsville Elementary School as it means another year of planting the garden behind the school. The school garden, which began in 2010, saw some major changes this year.
First, the size of the garden doubled to 40 by 60 feet, according to a news release from teacher Debbie Nate, one of the staff members involved with the project. Then six Bartlett pear trees were planted, and benches were added to make an outdoor classroom. Next came a birdhouse and bark chips for the sitting area and around the pear trees. Finally, climbing gates were added for climbing plants.
The decorative concrete benches were made by students in the Reedsville FFA and Allen Schuh’s landscaping class at Reedsville High School. They will be used by elementary and middle school students during classroom and laboratory lessons being taught outside.
Superintendent Dennis Raabe learned about a grant for school gardens being offered by the Wisconsin Medical Society. He applied, and the district received $1,900. A portion of the money was used to purchase materials for the benches and five of the six pear trees, with the other one being donated, according to lunch coordinator Diane Geiger, the other staff member working on the garden. They haven’t determined what the rest will be spent on, but Geiger said she’d like more seating and something to attract butterflies.
Thirty-seven fifth-graders from Nate’s science class helped with planting. They grew plants indoors for the garden, and later planted the seedlings as well as seeds. The garden consists of watermelon, peas, cucumbers, cantaloupe, red and white potatoes, onions, tomatoes, various peppers and squash. The last change will be fall-bearing raspberry bushes donated by a parent.
The students will help harvest plants in the fall and will help prepare the garden for winter. Nate and Geiger care for the garden during the summer months.
The fruits and vegetables grown in the garden will be used in the lunch menu at school, and some items also will be used for Reedsville’s senior nutrition site, for which the school district provides meals. When the school has more than it can use, it donates items to the residents of Reedsville Manor.
Nate thinks the experience is great for the students, many of whom didn’t know anything about planting.
“Fun and learning can definitely go hand in hand at the Reedsville Elementary School garden, she said in the news release. “Great nutrition is just the added plus in the lunches that went along with the fun.”
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