Oldfield Middle School
Greenlawn, NY
Oldfield Middle School transformed a 600 sq ft garden which borders an outdoor seating area used by many classes as an outdoor classroom and by staff members to eat lunch into a Native Pollinator Garden. During the preparation of the garden site, students were engaged and learned about soil makeup, invasive plants, weeds, and mulch. They removed non-native plants and transplanted them elsewhere. Once they had a clean slate, they mulched the area, and continued weeding over the spring, summer, and early fall. On October 23, 2024, the students planted the native plants. They have spent the fall adding leaves to the beds, as they are embarking on a “Leave the Leaves” program for these garden beds. The students are looking forward to seeing how the soil improves and witness the arrival of a diverse population of insects and birds that are attracted to the plants in the garden. The area will be used as an inspiration for writing, drawing, science, and more. A wide range of clubs and classes will be involved in continuing to maintain and beautify this space, spearheaded by Dr. Monica Zenyuh’s Helping Hands Community Service Club, and a future Garden Club.
Get involved with the ReWild Garden at Oldfield Middle School by emailing Monica at zenzenm8@gmail.com
Poems by Oldfield Middle School students around the garden:
