Community Gardens Greenhouse - Lowell, MA
Lowell Community Public Charter School
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The month of June was spent in class and out on the barren hardtop of the Charter school
playground where a dump truck full of soil was placed for our garden. Greenhouse volunteers
met weekly with the students who learned about soil cultivation, composting, litter, plant
species, container gardening, manures, garden design, teamwork and garden insects.
This initiative was a hands-on, participatory, practical application of the skills and techniques needed to create an inner city
urban garden. All 12 of the students were tremendously interested and participated with great enthusiasm. There were
many questions about products and materials used.
While creating the garden, the class read the book "Seed Folks" which is a story about a community garden. The teacher
used our time together to make connections to the book as she brought up events and connections to the story. There was
a great amount of discussion on some topics such as animal manures and worms which fascinated the youth. Having
actual materials for the students to examine was priceless!
All the necessary tools, soils amendments, compost, and plant materials were carried into the classroom and provided for
this project. This garden development could not have happened any other way.
Located at 206 Jackson Street in Lowell
Sponsor - The Parker Foundation
Sponsor - The Parker Foundation
| Growing communities from the ground up! |
Sharon Penicaud, is a Visual Arts Teacher for the Lowell Community Charter
Public School. The student population, along with Ms. Penicaud have
agreed to plant boxes and create gardens that are more portable as they are
in grave need of a playground and space cannot be committed for an
in-ground garden.
The garden development will be used primarily to teach students gardening
and environmental skills while creating an exciting botanical environment in
their neighborhood. There are no gardens at this location and the school
staff felt it was an excellent way to encourage students to learn and a great
outlet for their energy.
Public School. The student population, along with Ms. Penicaud have
agreed to plant boxes and create gardens that are more portable as they are
in grave need of a playground and space cannot be committed for an
in-ground garden.
The garden development will be used primarily to teach students gardening
and environmental skills while creating an exciting botanical environment in
their neighborhood. There are no gardens at this location and the school
staff felt it was an excellent way to encourage students to learn and a great
outlet for their energy.
The school is located in the Jackson Mills property
| 2007 Charter School Gardeners |
The garden site, flat barren hardtop. A chain link fence was constructed around the garden.
| After the garden was fenced in wood barriers were placed along the chain link to form the container. Kids filled the container with the soil, compost, and amendments. |
| The Greenhouse provided garden tools and planting materials. |
| Janice Pokorski demonstrates how to plant seedlings |
| Peppers, squash, and marigolds will be planted |
| A view of the garden during design |
| The final product included wave petunias and a container of herbs and annuals |
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