The Sensory and Discovery Garden at Center Woods Elementary began with a conversation between a couple of teachers and a school board member who is also a Center Woods parent and Weare Garden Club member.
The vision was for a garden to be used and loved by all students and staff at the school.
Last year, teachers Robert Koziol and Kate Rodgers and Weare School Board member, mom, and garden club member Heidi Colburn began planning for a school garden and applying for grants to cover start-up costs. The Sensory and Discovery Garden officially came to life after receiving a grant for $550 from the New Hampshire Master Gardener Alumni Association. Last spring, the garden layout was planned, garden boxes were built and filled with soil, and seeds were planted. Over the summer months, a group of Center Woods teachers and parents helped nurture the garden.
โAs soon as school started this year, our students were ready to dig in,โ said Enrichment Coordinator Kate Rodgers. โTheyโve been weeding and harvesting. Last week, some students made coleslaw with some of our produce,โ she said.
The Center Woods Elementary School garden was made possible by many generous donations from the community. Many thanks to Country Three Corners for lumber to build garden boxes, Townes Excavation for loam and compost, Knoxland Equipment for their contribution to purchase a Rolling Garden Seat, David Caterino for building the garden boxes, and Master Gardener Anne Wirkkala for her assistance in helping prepare our grant request.
โThrough this garden, our students are learning about environmental stewardship and community collaboration. The garden offers many expanded learning opportunities that will help grow our future parents, neighbors, advocates, entrepreneurs, investors, and leaders,โ concluded Kate Rodgers.