The SWC Eco Kids project to launch a sustainable garden program on the roof of the Southeast Raleigh Elementary School kicked off its first hands-on session with 25 fourth and fifth-grade students Friday, just before their Spring break. The team had been working well in advance, planting a variety of pollinator plants and seeds in eighteen raised bed boxes around the perimiter of the rooftop area, as well as cleaning up and relocating plants in the sixteen boxes in the middle, which are being adopted by student teams. These will provide living examples of the beneficial effects of pollinator plants and the pollinators they attract and support.
The students planted six different organic vegetable plants in one side of each box Friday, with some pollinator plants already on the other side. This was a new experience for most of them, and they were eager to get their hands in the dirt! They also learned about using natural compost for soil enrichment and not to use pesticides. As the crops develop, the students will be able to see the fruits of their labor and have some sample produce to take home with them later.
We have two more sessions planned, one in April and one in May, before the school year ends. The project team consists of Cissy, Dave, Penny, and Monty, and Bill has also helped with the prep work on the gardens. We have had tremendous support from Mr. Lamar Hill, Principal, as well as Laura Wood of WCPSS. More to come!
South Wake Conservationists 