School Gardens at Barrington Elementary...

As part of her Master Gardener volunteer project, Traci Bisson is working with the Barrington Elementary School in Barrington, NH to achieve eco-school status. Through a partnership with New Hampshire Audubon, the school received an Eco-Schools USA grant from the National Wildlife Federation. In addition, funding support was received from the NH Master Gardener’s Association and the New England Grassroots Environment Fund. The team, which consists of Assistant Principal Laura Deely, Teacher Kristin Joslin, Facilities Manager Paul Sanders, Ryan Swain and Master Gardener Traci Bisson, constructed four raised beds in the spring of 2016. Quick growing vegetables such as lettuce and radishes were planted in order to allow for a “harvest” before the end of the school year. Children from grades 1 – 4 were invited to participate in the planting, watering, weeding and harvesting of the garden. The garden is maintained throughout the summer by Ms. Joslin and the summer skills camp students who are also building birdhouses and feeders for the garden area. A new program will start up again in the fall with additional students and parents, teachers, students and community members will be invited to see the gardens, meet the kids involved with the program and hear a presentation about the school’s progress. For more information about this project, visit the BES Learning Garden Blog. Community and learning gardens at elementary school