The school has donated at least 7 boxes of produce to Lorraine's Soup Kitchen.
Children from Bowe School tend the community garden in the field behind the school.CHICOPEE — Every year, children in the third grade in the city study plants and learn a little about how they grow.
This year teachers, students and parents took that to an extreme. They created a community garden that was so successful, they recently donated seven boxes of produce to Lorraine’s Soup Kitchen.
Teachers proposed creating a community garden in a little-used part of the back field of Patrick E. Bowe School in September. They contacted the New England Farmworkers Council for advice and received permission from school administrators to use the field, said Harry Brandt, a third-grade teacher.
He now hopes to take their success and spread it to other elementary schools in the city.
Teachers worked through issues, such as how to use the garden in their teaching and where to get the supplies. One of the most difficult – how to care for the garden during summer vacation – proved easiest, Brandt said.
Students in the summer school program have been watering, and families, most of whom live near Bowe School, have signed up to water, weed and harvest vegetables in weekly shifts, he said.
Fernando Rivera and his wife, Vanessa Laffitte, have been coming with their daughter Jazmin Rivera, 9. The family also donated tools.
“I help water the plants,” Jazmin Rivera said, declaring the green peppers that are starting to ripen her favorite.
Her father said the family has also picked some of the herbs for his alfredo sauce.
“The kids love this, and it is a good way for them to learn,” Rivera said.
Proudly showing off what they picked from the garden set up behind the Patrick E. Bowe School, , from left to right, Francise Mulrooney 9, Jamie Lynn Felletter 9, Ricquan Charlemagne 10, Tori Huntoon 9, Maria Gonzalez 9, and Juan Navarro 9Through the project, children have been learning science, practicing math and also learning about good nutrition.
Francise Mulrooney, 9, said he learned about insects. “There are a lot of bugs that can help. Garden spiders and lady bugs are good,” he said.
The project began with a visit from an official at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst Extension Program, which assists farmers. He answered children’s questions and had the soil tested, said Melanie Boutin, a third-grade teacher.
After that, many helped. Students from Comprehensive High School built the structures for the 10 raised beds, and Lowe’s provided the wood. McKinstry Farms donated vegetable plants. The Department of Public Works delivered loam, and five businesses donated a total of $600 for fencing and tools, Brandt said.
Children had to use math skills to lay out the fence. They measured the outline and increments where stakes went. They also had to figure out how many plants could be placed in each bed and how closely they should be planted, Brandt said.
The children decided that surplus food should be given to Lorraine’s Soup Kitchen. Families are also welcome to take home the fruits of their labor, Brant said.
“My favorite vegetables are tomatoes and lettuce. They taste really good,” said Daniel Cruz, 9.