Once again, we return to Mabel G. Holmes School No. 5 for their second year of planting! While we did not plant garlic this time around, students from School No.5 welcomed tomatoes, squash, basil, and many more to their garden.
Did you know that students at Mabel G. Holmes are also growing and taking care of their very own lavender trees? All thanks to their teacher Mr. Frumolt, who has his very own garden at home!
On that very same day of 5/10/2023 we were lucky enough to visit the annex school of Nicholas Butler School No.23 to continue gardening! Unlike the main building where students planted in raised bed gardens, students planted in Earth Box gardens!
Container gardening is perfect anywhere, especially in small areas with limited outdoor space and no grass needed! One of the benefits about these Earth Box gardens are its ability to conserve water. Did you know that these types of gardens can hold up to 3 gallons of water? That’s a lot of water! This in return makes it easier for gardeners to maintain their plants hydrated and less labor-intensive than traditional gardening.
Hop on over and see what is going on in Roselle Park High School’s Earth Box Garden!
We were joined by none other than Roselle Park High School’s very own garden club with special guests…bunnies!
Did you know that a rabbit’s teeth never stop growing? They’re worn down as the rabbit chews on grass, flowers and vegetables. They can also jump a little over 3 feet high and 10 feet long!
With the help of Nicole Honrath and the garden club, the borough of Roselle Park has welcomed a variety of different vegetables and plants for their community; such as tomatoes, basil, and squash.
Students from John E. Dwyer School & Admiral William F. Halsey Technology Academy were joined by Commissioner Sergio Granados and Commissioner Lourdes Leon on Monday morning for their third year of gardening!
Not only does Dwyer and Halsey house pollinator gardens in their courtyard, they have also been able to establish a greenhouse so they can plant all year round!
Fun fact: Chairman Sergio Granados and Commissioner Lourdes Leon are both alumni from the Elizabeth Public School System: Admiral William F. Halsey Technology Academy and Elizabeth High School.
Victor Mravlag School No. 21 has welcomed cherry black tomatoes to their garden!
While cherry black tomatoes weren’t the only fruits planted, but they sure are one of the most interesting and rare fruits to be growing.
Unlike the common household tomatoes that are characterized by their red color, cherry black tomatoes are strikingly dark-colored. Interestingly, black cherry tomatoes contain lycopene, an antioxidant that can decrease a person’s risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer.
Toussaint L’overture-Marquis de Lafayette School No.6 has welcomed milkweeds to their garden! For those who may not know, milkweed attracts monarch butterflies and other support pollinators. For this reason, milkweeds are the required host plants needed for monarch butterflies to lay their eggs.
Not only will milkweed attract monarch butterflies to numerous gardens around the county, its flowers will also provide nectar for bees, beetles, flies and other beneficial insects that will help transfer pollen for seed production!
Trivia: What are milkweeds named after?
Milkweeds are named after their milky latex found in their stems, leaves and pods. While this milky latex may attract pollinators, it can be dangerous to animals if consumed in large amounts.
Commissioner Kowalski welcomed students from David Brearley High School for their first year of planting under Union County’s Kids Dig In Grant!
Fun Fact: David Brearley High School is one of nineteen new schools to kick off their first year of planting.
With the help of Jackie from Groundworks Elizabeth, David Brearley High School students and teachers have introduced a fresh source of product to the people of Kenilworth!
