Schools
Young Gardeners Ready the Earth
Woodlawn's Butterfly Club learns about plants in the school garden.
On a mild and sunny day, members of the Butterfly Club of Woodlawn Elementary School burst out of the doors at 3:45 to work on their garden. They would be preparing their garden to plant several crops, including milkweed to attract monarch butterflies.
Their goal is to provide a stopping off place for the butterflies as they migrate. ESOL teacher Jo McCormick and Special Ed teacher Lynda Kuhn guided the 12 lively fourth, fifth, and sixth grade students and announced the tasks for the afternoon. McCormick explained that the students had not yet had a chance to work on the garden this cold, wet spring and were eager to get going.
First, they would have to clear the ground and get it ready for planting. Some weeks before milkweed seeds and sunflower seeds had already been planted in classroom containers and seedlings had sprouted. Christopher Lordtait and Jazlynn Salguero were proud to show off the seedlings.
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Ayana Williams and Justina Hoxsey showed off budding strawberries which had been planted in raised beds a few weeks ago. Kuhn led the students to a shed to get out tools and gloves for the eager young gardeners.
According to Kuhn, Woodlawn Elementary had received a $2,000 Toolbox for Education Grant from Lowes and were able to buy garden tools and the shed.
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Some students were soon busy clearing and weeding. Others were running and gamboling in the sunshine until Kuhn reigned them in to do some serious weeding. The object for the day was to clear the ground and make it ready for planting. Both McCormick and Kuhn were busy making use of every teachable moment. One student asked if the dandelions should be pulled. Kuhn assured him that dandelions are weeds and should be pulled.
When one child found an interesting hole in the ground, a cluster of young gardeners quickly gathered around. “Don’t poke a stick into it,” said McCormick. That may be someone’s home.”
When Kuhn spoke of plans to grow potatoes, she asked a student if she knew how potatoes are grown, then explained how those bumps on potatoes are known as “eyes.”
"You plant the eyes. In the fall, the gardeners plan to plant lettuce and cabbage. Maybe we will grow enough food to offer to the school cafeteria,” said Kuhn.
