For many years, staff and students have dreamt of a school garden at the Meridian Parent Partnership Program (MP3). This year, that dream became reality thanks to a generous donation from Petrogas Corporation.
“Along with providing a place for learning more about the Earth, stewardship, the growth cycle and responsibility, it has provided a place for students to connect with one another,” said teacher Glenda Elgersma.
The garden is designed to be used as an outdoor classroom setting with seats for students and also to be used as a social setting where students can visit and eat lunch together.
“This space meets standards for both academic learning and social-emotional learning,” Elgersma said.
Petrogas donated $4,500 which enabled MP3 to purchase the items necessary for starting the garden. Items included a shed, tools, tool organizer, soil, wood chips, cedar for the boxes and outdoor faux wood stumps for seating.
“Without these funds, MP3 could not have constructed this garden or purchased needed materials and resources,” said teacher Janet Giesen.
Building the garden was a team effort of staff, students and volunteers who helped assemble the shed, build the boxes, and haul and shovel wood chips and dirt. The plan also included an ADA-accessible raised garden bed.
“It was our dream that everybody could access the garden, so it was one of our must haves to have a garden bed that was accessible for wheelchairs,” said teacher Rebecca Montgomery.
Students have expressed excitement for the school garden.
“It’s really cool, we’re making a garden. I like to see the update every day,” said fourth grader Autumn Bastion.
Montgomery shared that teachers began brainstorming how to incorporate the garden into learning even before the project was complete.
“Everything here is project-based learning, and I have a passion for gardens, so we will be using this garden as much as we can,” Montgomery said.