Posted 11:28 pm Monday, December 10, 2012
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Douglas Garden Club gets composting
Staff Reports
The Douglas Elementary School Garden Club has expanded its learning opportunities after receiving a compost bin.
The bin, funded through DonorsChoose.org, is a place where the students can put waste, such as leaves, dead plants and paper, to decompose and be used as fertilizer.
Douglas science lab teacher Ashley Green applied for funding for the $175 compost bin in September, according to a news release.
DonorsChoose.org is an online charity where public school teachers can request funding for classroom projects and anyone can donate.
The money came from several sources including Kia Motors, which donated half of the needed amount, Emily Piccone, a middle school teacher from New York, as well as two anonymous donors.
“We are so thankful for the donations,” Mrs. Green said. “This hands-on project helps our students learn about gardening and where their food comes from. I hope this project gives them the tools to one day teach their own kids about gardening.”
The bin, funded through DonorsChoose.org, is a place where the students can put waste, such as leaves, dead plants and paper, to decompose and be used as fertilizer.
Douglas science lab teacher Ashley Green applied for funding for the $175 compost bin in September, according to a news release.
DonorsChoose.org is an online charity where public school teachers can request funding for classroom projects and anyone can donate.
The money came from several sources including Kia Motors, which donated half of the needed amount, Emily Piccone, a middle school teacher from New York, as well as two anonymous donors.
“We are so thankful for the donations,” Mrs. Green said. “This hands-on project helps our students learn about gardening and where their food comes from. I hope this project gives them the tools to one day teach their own kids about gardening.”
More than 20 fourth- and fifth-graders participate in the Douglas Garden Club, according to the news release. This year students grew tomatoes, onions, okra, peppers, pumpkins and herbs.
“We send some of the fruits and vegetables home with Garden Club members to cook with their families,” Mrs. Green said. “We also like to use one of our herbs, mint, to make mint tea on days that the club meets.”
Since receiving the compost bin, Mrs. Green and Garden Club members have put paper waste along with leaves and dead plants from the garden in the bin.
Mrs. Green also plans to recycle cafeteria food waste in the bin, according to the news release. The Garden Club will use the composted material as fertilizer for the plants.
Club members plans to send a thank you package with handwritten letters and pictures to the donors in February.
Mrs. Green runs the Garden Club with help from teachers Catherine Lengua and Reyes Gomez.
“We send some of the fruits and vegetables home with Garden Club members to cook with their families,” Mrs. Green said. “We also like to use one of our herbs, mint, to make mint tea on days that the club meets.”
Since receiving the compost bin, Mrs. Green and Garden Club members have put paper waste along with leaves and dead plants from the garden in the bin.
Mrs. Green also plans to recycle cafeteria food waste in the bin, according to the news release. The Garden Club will use the composted material as fertilizer for the plants.
Club members plans to send a thank you package with handwritten letters and pictures to the donors in February.
Mrs. Green runs the Garden Club with help from teachers Catherine Lengua and Reyes Gomez.
