On Sunday, over 50 students, parents, teachers, school administrators, and other members of the school community came out to build nine raised flower beds in the school's courtyard, which will be available for classes to use in the future.
The effort was hosted by Island Grown Initiative's (IGI) Island Grown Schools program, which promotes increased agricultural education in schools and helps incorporate locally grown products into school meals. The project was the first new school garden to be built since the launch of the program in December 2007.
"I hope it helps students not only learn about the agricultural traditions of the island, but that it also supports healthy eating and consumer habits for the next generation," said Principal Michael Halt, who helped in the construction of the garden.
Students contributed to the effort too, carting wheelbarrows full of soil, constructing the flower beds, and planting. "The garden is good for the earth, and it gives kids the chance to show people who visit the school something they've done that's not just on paper, but that's alive, something they can see and learn from," said 5th grader (and new-found garden lover) Celia Drew-Moria.
In addition to the new garden at the West Tisbury School, The Oak Bluffs school is organizing the construction of their own school garden which will occur this summer, and other programs by the Island Grown Initiative are currently active at all other schools on the Island.
Click here to see a slideshow of the Garden Construction!
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