The Citizen, 1999-09-08, Page 6flood
PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 1999.
Students plant Earth Friendly Gardens
By Janice Becker
Citizen staff
Local public school students will
see the fruits of their labours in an
endeavour undertaken last spring,
when they return to school this
week.
Pupils from 20 schools across the
county participated in the initiative
to plant Earth Friendly Gardens.
Co-ordinated by Lynda Rotteau,
schools from the Avon Maitland
District School Board and the Huron
Perth Catholic School Board planted
patches of school property or other
donated land, with a variety of
crops.
This fall will be a time for “junior
gardeners to see the results of all
their hard work.” said Rotteau.
For many children and their fami
lies, it may be the first time they eat
vegetables grown by themselves.
The project began last spring
when Blyth, Grey Central and
Walton Public School students dug
up plots and with the help of volun
teers and teachers, the gardens were
planted.
At Grey Central, Principal Cheryl
Peach said former principal Paul
Statia volunteered to take the course
about the program and then with the
assistance of Mrs. Go'etz’ Grade 4/5
class the work got underway.
Two gardens were built away from
the play area at the school and plant
ing was included as part of the
course work for the students.
Crops planted included tomatoes,
beans, pumpkins, carrots, gourds,
potatoes, beets and swiss chard.
Some of the fall produce will be
used in the school while the rest of
the vegetables will go to the fami
lies who helped maintain the garden.
In Blyth, a small corner of town
property was donated for the pur
pose with Mrs. Hulley’s Grade 7/8
class doing the labouring. The stu
dents planted sunflowers, gourds,
com and potatoe^.
Expert advice was offered by
Betty Battye and Murray Siertsema.
It was the younger students at
Walton Public School who lent their
time for the planting there on a spe
cial work day held in May. Parents
and children planted a garden
behind Duff’s United Church, a few
of their vegetable selections includ
ed tomatoes, potatoes, peas, corn,
pumpkins, sunflowers, radishes and
lettuce.
In all locations, the children, their
families and volunteers helped
maintain the gardens through the
summer months.
Sponsored by the Millennium
Bureau of Canada and local dona
tions, the “goal of the gardens is to
expand the biodiversity of the
school yards while teaching students
how to grow their own food in an
organic manner,” said Rotteau.
The gardens are also dedicated to
peace as part of the International
School Peace Garden program
which has had a significant impact
on reducing school vandalism.
The Canadian Living Foundation
at the Children’s Aid Society of
Huron has recently donated $5,000
to the project to help expand the gar
den program to all schools in the
AMDSB and HPCSB.
Other sponsors are being sought to
support the program.
While the focus was on Huron
County schools in the first two
years, the aim will shift to Perth
County schools this year.
“The long term goal of Earth
Friendly Gardens is to influence par
ents and families to grow healthy
food without the use of chemicals by
having a garden in each of the 67
schools in our local school boards,”
said Rotteau.
Preparing the row
It was junior students at Walton Public School, along with
parents, who spent time planting seeds in the school’s Earth
Friendly Garden in a plot behind Duff’s United Church.
eaithward
^BOUND^
Bountiful harvest
Hard work by the caretakers of the Grey Central Public
School Earth Friendly Garden has resulted in expansive
masses of vines.
j uorgeous t
I Garden
Mums
GREYHAVEN
Planting the seeds
Last spring, senior students from Blyth Public School spent
part of the day at a small plot near the village’s soccer field
planting a garden.
GARDENS
523-9781
1/4 mile west of
Londesboro
Open Mon. - Sat.
5 Health Foods
Health Related Books
Great Gift Ideas
Supplements
40 East Street, Goderich 519-524-6651
With Great
Savings
on...
’-'Multivitamins
c Vitamin C Products
^Echinacea
and manyother
QUEST
Receive a FREE one year subscription
to your choice of
Owl. Chickadee or Chirp magazine
by purchasing
Quest Kids Chewable Multivitamins
(90s) and (180s) banded pack.
Quality Without Question - Sale ends September 30th
222 Josephine St., Wingham
357-3466