Community service, love of nature grows at Burr Elementary

A lesson in science and community service is growing in Burr Elementary’ s backyard.

Burr students and staff have created a community garden on the school grounds to grow vegetables that will be donated to area families.

Robert Lawson, a Burr teacher who organized the project earlier this month, said the construction of a community garden builds a number of important skills for Burr students.

"The Burr Community Garden Project is meant as a way for our students to get hands on experience in construction, as well as connecting with nature and where their food comes from," Lawson said. "In addition, they have learned how to work as a team while building their work ethic, giving back to their community and taking pride in the satisfaction of a job well done!" 

The community garden includes flowers - such as marigolds and sunflowers - and a variety of vegetables, including tomatoes, broccoli, eggplant, green beans, cucumber, many types of peppers, cauliflower, squash, and cabbage.

"I had many students come out to work" Lawson said. "I was very impressed with how quickly many of them had taken on leadership roles and were able to use power tools to get the job done. I also noticed that those who participated in the garden project where making sure that other students respected the garden during the school day and were eager to keep the garden weed free during their recess time." 

The vegetables will be harvested and donated to the nearby Community Christian Church, which regularly provides food baskets to area families.

The garden is supported by Burr Elementary and the Burr PTO.

Lawson is establishing a schedule for different members of the community to take care of the watering and maintenance over the summer.