Tag: elizabeth

Elizabeth

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!

Elizabeth

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.

Elizabeth

Planting Day with Commissioner Stanley J. Neron

We are excited to share that during the 2025–2026 school year, our school has expanded our existing vegetable garden thanks to the 2025 Kids Dig In Grant. In partnership with Groundwork Elizabeth and the Union County Board of Commissioners, we added a new raised planting bed along with soil, seeds, tools, and additional materials provided through Groundwork Elizabeth’s garden program.
Our students worked alongside Groundwork Elizabeth staff and Union County Commissioner Stanley J. Neron on planting day, actively participating in growing fresh vegetables. We are proud to continue donating a portion of our harvest to the community, strengthening our connection and giving back to those around us.
Our garden continues to enhance our school environment while providing hands-on learning experiences that promote teamwork, environmental responsibility, and healthy habits. We look forward to another successful growing season and sharing our harvest with the community.

Elizabeth

Eagle Nest Community Garden

Orcas are the second most popular plants that are being grown in gardens this year. Orcas can refer to two kinds, the first being the ‘Agave Ovatifolia.’ This plant is known for its frosty blue-grey leaves and wide yellow margins and can grow up to 2 feet tall!

The second is the ‘Venus Flytrap CCCP.’ This carnivorous plant is known for its deep traps and lacy dentition along the edges. Be on the lookout for these plants!

Elizabeth

Eagle’s Nest

Today was another exciting day at Elmora School No. 12 – they were awarded an ADA Garden Bed! We saw this group of students work as a team and saw how their hard work paid off!

This garden is becoming greener and more beautiful each week. We are excited to see it grow! Continue to make new discoveries about your garden! We look forward to coming back next year 😊

Elizabeth

Pantoja Gardens

On today’s visit, Groundworks Board Chair Sergio Granados was in attendance. Thank you, John, for teaching the students how to take care of their new garden!

We love how passionate the teacher and students are about their new ADA raised garden bed! We can’t wait to see the new, amazing things that grow in the garden!

Elizabeth

Thyme: The Delicious Herb

Welcome back to Thomas Edison Career & Technical School in Elizabeth, NJ. This year, we learned thyme is being put into the gardens from Groundwork Elizabeth!

Not only is thyme very delicious in our foods, it is also full of antioxidants and is a great source of beta-carotene (a red-orange plant pigment) and folic acid (Vitamin B). Thyme can also be used for soothing wounds, preventing infections, and treating congestion and stomach pain.

Elizabeth

Out of this World 🌎 Gardening

Union County Commissioner Palmieri-Mouded was in attendance at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. School No. 52!

A fun fact about one of the flowers we planted: the Zinnia. Did you know that it was the first flower to bloom in outer space?

In 2016, NASA astronaut Scott Kelly was able to successfully grow bright orange Zinnias on the International Space Station (ISS). This was an active project at the time to understand how plants can grow in microgravity.

Elizabeth

Dig, Plant, GROW!

Union County Commissioner Stanley Neron joined Thomas Jefferson Arts Academy High School, where they received an ADA raised garden bed!

One of the things that they were able to plant was tomatoes. We just learned that tomatoes may contain hornworms! Hornworms are little plant ninjas that love to hide on tomato plants and munch on the leaves. Be on the lookout for the hornworms!

We love the sign that you made, and we wish you the best of luck with your new garden!

Elizabeth

Planting 101

Union County Commissioner Stanley Neron joined JVJ STEM Academy with their new raised garden bed!

Thank you to all of the students who came out to plant with John from Groundwork Elizabeth.

A fun fact about planting: plant roots continue growing after the top growth slows. Root development is especially active during cooler weather. Helping plants establish before the next growing season.