Our new after-school Elementary Garden Club kicked off its first class this week outdoors in the school greenhouse and garden and got busy planting basil, cilantro, and chives into seed trays and filling raised beds with new soil. The raised garden beds are located on either side of the new greenhouse. The Garden Club advisors are 5th grade teacher Bethany Kiefer and 4th grade teacher Eric Tardif.
“We’re thrilled that 19 students came out for our first class this week and they’re excited about developing their green thumbs,” said Mrs. Kiefer. She said once the herbs have taken root and the last frost has passed they will be planted in the garden beds. Mr. Tardif said the students will be watering, weeding, and learning about how to grow plants organically, in pesticide-free soil. The club for 1st-5th grade students will be meeting Tuesdays from 3:15-4:15 p.m.
ACS is grateful for several donations that have helped launch the new club. AtlantiCare Healthy Schools provided a grant to build the greenhouse and the raised garden beds. ACE Hardware in Egg Township donated seed trays and seeds. ACS parent Kelly Ann Shaw donated and delivered new topsoil for the garden beds and potting soil was acquired from the now shuttered Patcong Farms.