Growing Together: The Garden Project Blooms Into Reality

If you are a returning student of York River Academy, you may remember the Garden Project that was hosted at the end of last year, where groups of students competed for their ideas to be highlighted and integrated into the new and improved school garden. After the competition, it was revealed that ideas from all the groups will be combined for the project. The garden has already existed for quite some time now, and it currently consists of 4 beds, a pond, and a greenhouse that is in need of work. However, we are planning to add an abundance of improvements moving forward this school year.

What we are planning on doing to benefit the garden is adding 4 more beds, meaning we will have 8 beds total to work with, adding a variety of plants to be included in the beds, investing in higher quality soil, devoting space and care for Virginia native species, weeding, and consistent watering to ensure the plants thrive in the conditions of our garden. And speaking of the original four garden beds, they are currently in bad shape, so we are planning on restoring them to their former glory. We also intend to clean up the greenhouse and fix our irrigation system we already have in place to make planting things in different seasons easier and to also ensure plants remain healthy.

The purpose of this project is that it is student-led while York River teachers and staff act merely as support for the enterprise. The students who wish to take part will work throughout the school year to help beautify and enhance the garden. Others who wish to take part in the garden can contact Mrs. Sheffield at hsheffield@ycsd.york.va.us. 

- Written by Paige Woolsey

-Images Edited by Bryan Danet