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Dirt's lessons
By PAULETTE LASH RITCHIE © St. Petersburg Times, published April 5, 2001 INVERNESS -- The children swarmed over the big compost heap like ants on an anthill until their teacher, Kristen Russell, reminded them to stay off the top of the pile and shovel from the sides. The compost heap had to be moved to the soon-to-be-planted vegetable garden. The Inverness Primary School children, hands in protective gloves, shoveled and lifted the rich dirt into pails, assisted by a few high school students. Sandra Cross,' Jean Jaworski's and Russell's first- and second-grade students were taking advantage of the the cool, sunny morning to prepare the school's fifth garden for the open house, scheduled from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday . At that time, the children will share what they have learned about gardening and natural composting techniques. Visitors to the open house will be escorted on tours of the gardens, the butterfly enclosure and the environmental center. Special guests will assist with presentations on gardening, natural composting, water conservation, native plant selection and marine science education. Gifted students attending REACH summer school began the school's second year of the environmental program by composting and setting up the environmental center. In the fall the IPS children began their fall planting and learned to use peanut shells when they plant. The shells, which they get from Williston Peanuts, Russell said, form a protective blanket over the ground. They don't take nutrients out of the soil, but they do help hold water in. Russell suspects the peanut shells have been the reason for the success of their gardens through the cold, dry winter. "We only lost two plants out of the five-garden area," she said. The older students, some from Withlacoochee Technical Institute's science classes and some from Citrus High, act as peer counselors to the children, helping with the heavier work, digging and building. "We're going to be building boxes for the compost," said Peter Scotto, 18, a senior from WTI. "Our basic thing is just the interaction with the kids," said Joe Lovette, 18, also a WTI senior. They also documented humidity, wind speed and other gardening conditions for their science class. The younger children were learning how to take care of the Earth, responsibility, chemistry, soils, math -- estimates and measurements, experimentation, sequencing and language arts. They have kept journals of what they are doing and have written poems and narratives. Funding for the gardening projects has come from several sources. The program is supported by Swiftmud, state Title VI grants, local donations and, most recently, a National Gardening Association Award. IPS was one of 400 schools chosen from 1,500 schools nationwide, including America Somoa, to receive a $750 2001 Youth Garden Grant. "The kids have tremendous ownership with this," said Russell. "We're hoping this will be a model for other schools. And the kids are outside and enjoying this, and just being recognized by the national Gardening Association was a thrill for these kids." First-grader Hollie Snyder, 7, seemed to be quite at home out in the dirt. "I like to garden," she said. "We come out here, and we take the dirt over to the garden. It's made out of peanut shells and it's made out of leaves and newspaper and that makes the plants live longer. You don't have to water it everyday. You can use it for food and vegetables, 'cause it's good for plants, good for everything, banana trees and worms and worms are good for the soil because they help the soil and you can help the Earth." The following community participants will have booths or presentations at the open house from 5 to 8 p.m. April 10: SWIFTMUD, Cooperative Extention Service, Marine Science Academy, Ozello Gardens, Citrus County Water Quality, Central Florida Community College, Color Country Nursery. Students will lead tours of the IPS Environmental Education Program. The Scholastic Book Fair will be open at the school the same evening from 3:30-6 p.m.
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