Sixth Graders Volunteer at the Firestorm Memorial Garden
By Vicki Oliveira, Garden and Events Chair, North Hills Community Association
The North Hills Community Association hosted Ryan Nepomuceno and his sixth grade ‘Little Farmers’ at the Firestorm Memorial Garden for the second time this year.
The objective for the day was to apply mulch from a large pile that was dropped a couple of weeks ago by NHCA’s garden partner Big Chief Tree Service. We arranged for an early drop so the mulch could age and dry out, but it was still warm and a little steamy!
As this was a ‘first’ for many of our volunteer participants, we were a little concerned that mulching may have been a bit much for sixth graders, but they seemed to embrace the assignment. Ryan says the students are still talking about carrying buckets of mulch days after the garden event!
After getting everyone suited up in their safety vests, passing out gloves and tools, i.e., buckets, shovels and rakes, we explained the advantages of mulching and how important their work is in the Memorial Garden.
This is the second year of the partnership between Bentley School and the North Hills Community Association at the Firestorm Memorial Garden. It has been fun and rewarding to work with our future “Master Gardeners”. The students get a lot of work done, and we look forward to hosting another group from Bentley School before the end of the school year.
The volunteers did a great job, and we are grateful for Ryan and the Bentley School support of the NHCA Firestorm Memorial Garden program.
