Vandals trash work of young green thumbs

Elementary students replant after someone uproots the saplings and vegetable garden they had planted.

By TERRI D. REEVES

© St. Petersburg Times, published May 6, 2000

TARPON SPRINGS -- When the pupils at Tarpon Springs Fundamental Elementary School planted trees and a vegetable garden, the exercise was supposed to teach them about environmental preservation.

Then some vandals came along and the students learned about perseverance, too.

On the school campus at 400 E Harrison St., there is evidence that many loving green thumbs have touched the soil throughout the years. There are several groups of maturing trees that were planted by pupils and their families years ago. There is also a pineland wildflowers garden, a butterfly garden, a kindergarten sunflower garden and a new first-grade vegetable garden.

"We like to teach the children about environmental preservation, responsibility and taking care of things," said principal Donna Koutney.

This year, though, has been tough on new plantings. It's not the drought, nor the heat. In recent months, vandals have struck twice: once uprooting dozens of young trees and most recently smashing potted plants and destroying the first graders' vegetable garden.

The graduating fifth-graders had decided to leave as their legacy a sapling planted for each one of them -- 56 in all. On Arbor Day in January, they planted the young trees. They watered them and, just like proud parents, watched them grow. They even won an award for their efforts from the Florida Federation of Garden Clubs.

Then two months later, about three-quarters of the 2- and 3-foot-tall trees were pulled up and strewn in the parking lot.

"It wasn't very nice that they pulled them all out after all that work for our school," said fifth-grader Wayne Moore of Tarpon Springs. "But we replanted so our school will look good, and we're hoping they won't do it again."

On Easter weekend, the vandals attacked the first-grade vegetable garden behind one of the school buildings.

"It was our science experiment," said first-grader Shannon Westwood of Tarpon Springs.

The garden-wreckers tore out corn, green peas, squash and tomato plants. Then they smashed 85 potted plants against a brick wall.

"I was shocked," said first-grader Roya Atefi of Clearwater.

"We really liked the garden and wanted to have some food when school was finished," said Becky Bodine, a first-grader from Tarpon Springs.

"I think they were jealous because we had a garden and they didn't," said Tanya Gavin of Tarpon Springs, a first-grader.

The children didn't cry. They replanted, fertilized and watered and are keeping their fingers crossed that they might see some vegetables before the school year ends.

"We can still have a garden. It just won't be the same one," said first-grader Jordon Wubbena of Tarpon Springs.

The damage was reported to the Tarpon Springs Police Department, which plans to keep a close eye on the school grounds.

Barbara Hoffman, a parent volunteer who helps run the school's garden club, said these things may have happened for a reason.

"They've learned a lot from this: how it feels to have something you've made and cared about destroyed, how to be a better person, and why we respect others," she said.

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