The mission of Knight’s Haven is to create and sustain a native pollinator garden in the heart of Queens! Queens Metropolitan High School is a New York City public high school established in 2010. The O.W.N. Environmental Club applied for the ReWild community garden program in late 2023, with the desire to provide a natural habitat for insects, a sanctuary for birds, and a pleasant and inviting atmosphere for people arriving onto our campus.
The garden was designed to create waves of color starting in spring and lasting all the way to fall. Students led the way in making this vision into a reality, from clearing and mulching the bare lot to measuring and planning the layout to carefully installing every species in its place. In the spring, students will be able to stroll along the linear garden, enjoying the sights and sounds of a bustling natural space less than 500 feet from their classrooms. Members of the community frequently visit our campus to walk or ride their bicycles, and the garden will serve as a welcoming and peaceful gateway to our urban oasis.
Aesthetics and natural harmony aren’t the only function of this garden. During the blooming season, student volunteers will work to document the species visiting certain keystone plants. Once the data is collected, they will be compared with data from other community gardens in an effort to track the behavior of pollinators across the region. In addition, our Biology, AP Statistics, AP Environmental Science, and Health classes can all take the opportunity to weave the garden into their challenging and rigorous coursework.
Queens South High Schools, our district in New York City, has the motto: “Our students are the seeds of tomorrow that we academically and socio-emotionally nurture in preparation for future success.” Our school community pledges to nurture the seeds planted at Knight’s Haven to help generations of students enjoy the interconnected parts of our natural world.
Get involved with Knight’s Haven by emailing lschordine@queensmetro.com.
Designed by QMHS students in our 2024 Youth Design Summer course.