Garden project Grows at Clarendon Central

May 06, 2010

The planting crew rests after planting a crabapple tree-back row,l-r Mrs. Walker and Corrie-Lyn Shields, front row, l-r- Julie White, Sarah Watkins and Tori Klatt-(missing are garden friends Emily and Janet Brooks). Photo courtesy of Jayne Walker

Students at Clarendon Central Public School in Plevna expanded their school garden last week and on April 28 planted three new fruit trees- one plum, one crabapple and one serviceberry tree.

The garden project, now in its second year at CCPS, was spearheaded by teacher Jayne Walker, who last year received a $2000 grant from the Limestone Learning Foundation to start a school garden. The garden is comprised of five raised beds that feature native perennials and annuals, flowering plants and bulbs plus and now three new fruit trees.

The garden supports various types of curriculum offered at the school, especially science, and offers students a first-hand opportunity to learn how plants grow and develop and how to classify plants and seeds.

Jayne Walker explained, “The curriculum is no longer abstract for students and the garden allows students to get out of the classroom and learn by interacting with all of their senses.”

Walker has always been interested in gardening with children for years and she foresees the project continuing to grow and evolve over time. “The sky’s the limit as to what we can do with the garden in the future.”