Students exercise green thumbs, help plant school herb garden
By Toni Walker
Editor
Students at Hughes Springs Elementary will soon have a special place to learn outdoors to learn about Texas Ecosystems, gardening, and wildlife such as birds and butterflies.
Through the guidance of Principal Scott Hanes, fourth grade teacher Clair Terrell applied for, and received, a grant from the Environmental Protection Agency and the Jefferson Academy for the purpose of implementing a school garden. After receiving confirmation that the grant had been approved, and under the direction of Cass County Extension agent John Ferguson, Terrell began the process of beginning a keyhole garden at the school.
“The garden will serve as a multipurpose area, where the students can learn about planting and growing, not only food, but it will also be a butterfly garden and an outdoor learning space where they can learn about the different ecosystems in Texas,” said Hanes. Terrell added that there will be plants that will welcome a variety of pollinators, including butterflies and birds. There will also be feeders and houses in the garden area as well.
Ferguson stated that the students are not only learning about ecosystems and plants and animals through the project. Students are learning the importance of growing their own food, and Ferguson mentioned that the program is working to combat the obesity problem that is prevalent among children in America. Terrell shared that a majority of students who are participating in class with the project have begun their own gardens at home. Hanes said “Most of these kids think that their food comes from Brookshire’s. If we can teach them how to grow their own, they will be healthier.”
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