Gardens

When Claremont decided to have a school garden, they hired a garden coordinator and paid her 25% time to organize and oversee the effort. Aysha Massell took on the challenge of planning an open space along one side of the school. As the garden evolved, it has added many fun, attractive and unique elements, which was mostly designed and built by students.

To help with the work, Aysha began a “farmer internship” program in which the 7th and 8th grade students work for a stipend or “service award” at the end of the semester. Students in the farmer internship program and students in the after school art program created the entryway to the garden. They laid the bricks themselves, decided on the vibrant color scheme and painted the arbor.

They also came up with the creative idea of using bicycle wheels (sans tires), hooked together, end on end, as a trellis for vines.

Other fun elements are the “Gourd Tree”

The “Stump Garden”

The herbs grown in the Stump Garden offer special tastes, scents, and sensations

Much of the garden is designed around containers and raised beds. This has proven to be an easy way to grow a variety of veggies and perennials. The containers allow for ready access, particularly for the Special Education kids, who have mild to moderate disabilities. They regularly come out and work in the garden, and the containers and raised beds allow them to garden hands-on.

A new feature, still in progress, is a dry riverbed, along which will be planted California natives. This opens up possibilities for more science lessons.

Aysha and the students are also active composters. Around the opposite side of the school, she found a spot for a teachable compost area. Notice all the artwork on the way…

Once there, students study living and nonliving qualities of soil, and while they are at it, dig for worms.