Garden, Students Bloom at Park Avenue Elementary

Enjoying the fruits of one's labor is always enjoyable, but enjoying the "vegetables" of labor is something even better – especially at Park Avenue Elementary.

Kindergarten teacher Robin Obey and art teacher Jill Skelly got together last summer and discussed the idea of bringing a garden to the school. In January, the dynamic duo held a meeting to see what parents would be interested in helping.

Within three months the Park Avenue community pulled together and created their garden with a few seeds and lots of enthusiasm. The school held its bed building day on March 20, the first day of spring. Nearly 20 families were there constructing the beds for the future garden.

Skelly said that the soil, compost and lumber were all donated through various sources and that the Bellmore Lions Club gave money for the fence.

"Without this community and the parent involvement it never ever would have happened," Obey said. "They are really the reason why it's such a success."

Since the garden's official opening, different grade levels have been involved in the planting, weeding and watering.

According to Obey, more than 50 kids were involved in the harvesting of five-and-a-half pounds of snaps peas and several bags of lettuce on Friday. The harvest was for a salad tasting on Monday where the students got to enjoy their labor.

Currently, the garden consists of several different kinds of vegetables including radishes, three different kinds of lettuce, spinach, zucchini and pumpkins.

"Our long range plan is to increase the yield so next year we'll be able to donate with the local food bank," Obey said. "We're hoping to get involved even with the senior centers here to perhaps have seniors come over, help with the gardening and read to children in the garden."

But the garden serves another purpose other than eating: learning. Math sessions have been held in the garden where students have measured the growth of the peas, while sixth graders have helped use the square-foot gardening method.

There are also about 13 fourth graders on the "green team," a group of students that helps manage and maintain the garden along with Obey and Skelly.

"They love it. They don't get wild here – they are just interested and engaged," Obey said of her students. "... The students are really involved in every aspect."

Skelly and Obey both said that the community has gotten involved to the fullest extent. Approximately 10 families have signed up to look after the garden each week over the summer. They will be involved in weeding, watering, turning over the soil and planting.

Neighbors have also responded by contributing raspberry bushes and supporting the local garden.

"Everything Robin and I set out to do last summer when we began planning has come to fruition," Skelly said. "Nothing makes either of us happier than to see children and their families working together and enjoying the Park Avenue School/Community Garden. The real legacy is when you hear parents and children talk about how they are now inspired to create gardens at home."