Bolingbrook School Prepares to Launch Edible Garden

Thanks to a grant from the Valley View School District 365U Nutrition Services Department, B.J. Ward Elementary School has developed plans to launch an edible garden in the spring.

Garden coordinator Val Nagy says most of the fruit and vegetables grown in the garden will be served to B.J. Ward students at lunchtime.

“This is a great tie-in with the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Grant we receive every year,” Nagy said, alluding to the state grant that brings fresh fruits and vegetable snacks to Ward children at mid-morning and mid-afternoon. “It will help students understand where food comes from and how it grows, and it will help them make healthier choices when they eat.”

The plan calls for some fall and winter recruitment of volunteers to help build the beds when warmer weather breaks as well as some indoor gardening to give some of the young plants a chance to grow a bit before they are transplanted into the garden.

“We’ll be able to teach our students about the plants and how they grow,” Nagy said.

The edible garden, designed by Stephen Carlin of Sebert Landscaping, will be located in the back of the school near the doors to kindergarten classrooms and will consist of six plots, several picnic tables and a butterfly garden.

“Each grade level will be responsible for one plot,” Nagy said.

Nagy will also launch a B.J. Ward Garden Club after the first of the year that will meet weekly throughout the school year and during the summer to tend the garden. But, she says, the school needs parent and community volunteers to help as well.

The school is also seeking a grant from Lowe’s to build a fence around the garden and is looking for other local businesses to help financially with construction and care of the garden. Anyone interested should contact Nagy at 630-972-9200.

“I’m really excited about this,” Nagy said. “It will be such a great experience for the kids to see how everything starts from seeds and watch it all grow into fruition.”