an official website of the County of Union

Elmora School No. 12

Where Roots Meet the Future

This wonderful teacher and her students came out to meet their new apple tree! Ashley and Stephanie from Groundworks Elizabeth were able to walk through how to maintain their tree and to use the green “donut” to water as much as they can! We are looking forwarded to how this tree will grow! We hope you have an amazing summer and are looking forward to coming back next year! 

Chessie Dentley Roberts Academy School No. 30

Union County Commissioner Neron joined Chessie Dentley Roberts Academy School No. 30 for their cherry tree planting! Thank you so much to the students and staff for coming out for their tree planting! We were beyond happy to see the students smile for the plantings! One thing we learned about tart cherries is how they are a natural source of melatonin! A hormone that helps regulate sleep, it can help you fall asleep sooner and keep you sleeping longer! Like I always say, the more you know! 😊

Abraham Lincoln School No 14 – Elizabeth

On this beautiful morning we had the students and staff come meet their new Apple Tree! Thank you to John from Groundwork Elizabeth for explaining how their tree is grafted! Which means it will grow different kinds of apples 😊 We wish you the best of luck and are excited to see how the tree will grow! 

Terence C. Reilly School No. 7

Roots for the Future

Welcome back to another tree planting! On the County’s continuous journey to different locations, we are beyond excited to visit the teachers and students at Terence C. Reilly!

This year, the students were awarded a Cherry tree🍒. Here is a fun fact that the students learned today:

There are two main types of cherries: sweet cherries, which are normally eaten fresh, and tart cherries, which are often used in pies, juices, and preserves. Cherries are also rich in vitamin C, potassium, fiber, and antioxidants.

Shoutout to Ashley and Stephanie for the wonderful work that they do😊!

Peterstown Community Center

The Gift that Keeps Growing

We are so excited for the apple tree that has been planted for Peterstown Community Center!

Apple trees can live for fifty to one-hundred years or more when well cared for. The young trees will need regular care, including watering and monitoring, to help them grow strong and healthy. We look forward to watching them flourish over the years, serving as a lasting reminder of what can be accomplished when a community works together toward a common goal! 

Prevention Links

Elizabethport Community Center

One of several Prevention Links locations! This community came together for a meaningful tree planting event, demonstrating how small actions can make a lasting difference. This event was more than just planting trees – it was about building connections within the community space.

Awarded an Apple tree, this wonderful group of people worked together to share knowledge, encourage one another and celebrate their collective effort to care for the environment!

Dr. Albert Einstein Academy School No. 29

Einstein’s Outdoor Classroom

Dr. Albert Einstein students were able to learn about why trees are so important. They provide shade, produce oxygen, create habitats for wildlife, and help keep our environment clean!

This year, the students were awarded Cherry trees! Did you know that it can take a cherry tree three to seven years to produce a significant harvest after planting? Most cherries are harvested during late spring and early summer, depending on the climate they are in. We are very excited to see how this cherry tree will grow!

Washington Elementary School

Spring Sprang Sprung

It’s a jungle out there! This garden has taken off with reckless abandon. As we wind down the year, our garden is just getting started. Soon we’ll see the shoots and buds that turn into fruits and vegetables. We won’t be here to harvest them, but hopefully people will grab whatever looks tasty.

Donald Stewart Center School No. 51

Cleaning the Garden before Planting

As we approached the end of the winter months, our teachers and students began preparing the school garden for the upcoming growing season. Even with the colder weather, our school community stayed committed to caring for our outdoor learning space. Students helped clear leaves, remove debris, refresh the soil, and tidy up the raised beds to ensure everything was ready for spring planting.
This early season cleanup gave students hands on experience with garden maintenance while reinforcing teamwork, responsibility, and environmental stewardship. Teachers guided students through identifying winter damage, turning the soil, and learning why preparation is essential for a healthy garden.

Sherman Elementary School

Spring Planting & Chive Butter

We started our garden plants in seed snails and in hydroponics units. We transplanted tomatoes, peppers, watermelon, basil, and string beans into our garden.

We also planted cucumber seeds and have been harvesting chive blossoms, chives, and snap peas. We used our beautiful purple chives to make delicious chive blossom butter which we enjoyed on french baguette. Yum!

We have a few ladybugs lingering in our garden, which were released by our preschool students at the end of their ladybug lifecycle study.