September 14, 2022

Junior High students had a new elective to pick from this school year - Gardening Class with Mrs. Kristen Caldwell.  We are grateful to PC parents, Allwood Recyclers, Boring Bark, and Mt. Scott Fuel for their donations of equipment and materials, soil, and bark chips.  In preparation for this class, Mrs. Caldwell spent part of her summer building raised vegetable beds, planters and compost bins.

This course will be an introduction to the basics of gardening and include the creation of vegetable and flower gardens on campus. Students will frequently be working outdoors (weather permitting) to create garden spaces, insect habitats, and bird habitats. 

Mrs. Caldwell shares, “I plan to help students create three garden spaces on the school grounds; transforming them from unused grass and bark dust areas into learning, growing spaces that will better our environment and bring calm to our students.”  One of the spaces will be a vegetable garden that will supply fresh veggies to the school cafeteria.

The junior high students in this class are so excited.  Several of them are familiar with vegetable growing, but for others, this will be their first foray into growing food and connecting to God’s creation in this way.

Last week, the class took a walking field trip to the “Grow Portland Eastminster Community Garden."  The students were “wowed” by the huge tomatoes, green beans, kale, and other countless veggies, and the different methods of staking and growing the veggies. 

Seeing potato plants was inspirational for them as they had just planted their seed potatoes.  Students will be also be growing kale, radishes and other winter greens.

This elective class is not just about vegetable gardening!  The exciting plan is that over the school year, the other garden areas will develop to have a small seating area, amidst flowering plants, shrubs.  A wildlife garden will include plants attractive to pollinators, mason bee houses, and a “no mow” meadow space. The class will coordinate with PCS staff member, Mr. Dennis Boyd, planting a flower garden that will surround the cafeteria courtyard.

We’re excited to see our students having hands-on experiences and interacting in the outdoors with our God’s creation!

END

Written by Grace Dugger