Barlow Mountain Gets Head Start On Growing Season

Organic soup, chili, bread, salad, and cookies at Barlow Mountain Elementary School kicked off the spring season Tuesday as students got ready to learn more about what it takes to grow, in more ways than one.

The faculty lunchroom buzzed with teachers and staff as the school kicked off its new outdoor classroom, an initiative known as "Barlow Blooms," which is to break ground the first weekend of May.

The fare provided by Nature's Temptations was a crowd pleaser at the PTA-sponsored event, but the school's garden four-years-in-the-making took over the conversation.

"The school garden idea has come up every year since I've been the principal," said Rebecca Pembrook. "We decided to get the ball rolling this year."

Pam Hartnett and Emily Mills of the PTA led the project and plan to keep a close eye on fund-raising plans. The Green Village Initiative (GVI) out of Westport, assisting with the project, has helped three other schools with gardens, as well.

"In our case, GVI is contributing, but we are doing some fund-raising and this is just the beginning," Hartnett said.

The next step for the school is to get a firm budget with which to move forward. Once the budget is confirmed, students, parents, local businesses and staff will be able to begin building the garden.

"It will be the first garden in town that is ADA compliant," Hartnett said.

Benefits of the outdoor classroom include opportunities for students to learn how to plan, care for and protect the vegetables and flowers they grow.

The school's librarian, Martha Cerretto, has been preparing students for the experience since January.

"We were reading non-fiction and fiction books on gardens, growing and protecting gardens," Cerretto said. "We've been discussing it in an abstract way."

Some books she has read to students were: Dirt by Steve Tomecke, Living Sunlight: How Plants Bring the Earth to Life by Molly Bang and Penny Chisholm, and Zinnia's Flower Garden by Monica Wellington.

"They have loved them," she said.

Discussions among kindergarteners and fifth graders alike have included the responsibilities of growing a garden, what they would like to grow, who will take care of it during summer months and the purposes of planning.

"They are excited about it and already volunteering the services of their families," Cerretto laughed.

Another plan for the garden will be for a contribution to sensory learning geared towards students with special needs.

On Earth Day, students, parents, faculty and staff will be celebrating the new outdoor classroom with a garden booth, hands-on activities, a worm composting booth and a sun-protection booth.

Also, the logo created by students through a contest will be chosen that day.

The turnout for the luncheon was pleasing, Pembrook said.

Staff and faculty cannot wait to see the way the students benefit from the new garden, she said, and they plan to use it to its fullest potential and hope to implement a different type of learning experience for Barlow Mountain.