It takes teamwork to grow an Ultimate Schoolyard Garden

CPCC students and teachers assemble the Ultimate Schoolyard display

About the time last summer that Charlotte gardeners were harvesting tomatoes, two-dozen people planted the first seeds for a garden that will bloom next February at the Southern Spring Home and Garden Show.

People who have dedicated their lives to gardening, education, health, nutrition and children decided to put a giant tomato stake in the ground and launch what they boldly called the Ultimate Schoolyard Garden.

Four months later, after much planning, the 30-by-30 display of inspiring garden possibilities is taking shape at local greenhouses and inside the woodworking shop at CPCC’s Harris Campus.

It takes a team to grow the Ultimate Schoolyard Garden. Our team has great talent and dedication.

Designers: First off are the display’s designers. Visitors will be amazed by the display dreamed up by Beth Poovey and her team from LandDesign.

Builders

Three weeks ago, carpentry teachers and students at CPCC began using that design to assemble more than 80 4-by-4-foot recycled oak pallets into garden walls, planters and even the representation of an old school bell tower. Fittingly, our project is letting CPCC carpentry students apply their classroom lessons to a real-life project. These classes are also constructing a  greenhouse. We must recognize instructors Tony Hayes and Tom Dermitt for their enthusiastic support.

Growers

Two amazing horticulture experts, Annie West and Kaiti O’Donnell, have taken on the challenge of identifying the nearly 2,000 plants that will populate the pallet walls, raised-bed garden boxes and other components of this display.  They are striving to include as many native plants as possible, while ensuring the plants are show-ready in late February. Remember, this show is in the dead of winter when all plants simply want to lay dormant and await spring.

Experts in worms, fish, ozone …

Simultaneously, teams are working on the aquaponics (Sam Fleming), coordinating animal visitors (Catherine Crocker), overseeing an ozone garden (Mary Stauble) and weather station (Terri Bennett), designing a certified wildlife habitat (Mary Bures), helping with a reading nook (Michell Houck), and dealing with compost including worms (Henry Owens) – to name a few of this project’s many facets.

Our students

Next month you will hear more about student involvement through garden art, the communications strategy surrounding this display and how the Green Teacher Network has formed to hold quarterly workshops supporting the growing demand for schoolyard gardens at our schools, and the growing demand for an increased understanding of where our food comes from.

And you!

Please consider supporting this effort through a donation and sharing our newsletter with your friends. 

Contact me for details on how you can provide financial support. Or CLICK HERE to donate online. This is a totally non-profit effort, so every gift large or small will help. 

Thanks,

Edna Chirico, Executive Director, Catawba River District