Members of the Herkimer Junior High Community Service group did not stop helping out when they took the summer off from school this year.
Donna Fulmer, seventh grade science teacher and advisor to the group, said members took turns caring for a community garden at the school, including watering, fertilizing and harvesting the crop.
The community garden was started up this summer after the donation of Beech-Nut bins from a former school advisor and then soil for the bins from an anonymous donation. Fulmer said she took the idea to the students who were excited to get started on the project.
So far, this summer, the garden has yielded over 10 gallons of vegetables, including beets, tomatoes, cucumbers and spinach. The food, after it’s harvested, is then donated to local food pantries, including salads for Shepherd’s Table.
“We’re trying to make a difference and we like to get our hands dirty,” said Shannon Cool, an eighth grader with the group, as she worked in the garden on Friday. “We hope other students will start it at their schools.”
Cool worked on pulling out beets from one of the garden bins with the help of other eighth-graders with the group, Nicole Zaleski and Dominique Pizzo-Palumbo. Fulmer helped the students figure out the best way to pull out the beets and advised them to wrap them up quickly so the leaves did not wilt.
Zaleski said it also becomes a learning experience, as much as it is a helping experience.
“It helps other people and teaches me how to grow things,” she said.
Some of the other projects the group have participated in include a CROP Walk at Folts Home, visited with residents at Valley Health Services and recycling over 100 pounds of paper in the school. Fulmer said she also taught the students how to sew to make blankets and pillows for children staying at the Ronald McDonald House at Christmastime. For the Ronald McDonald project, Fulmer said the students would come in on their lunch breaks and study hall to help get the pillows and blankets done in time for Christmas.
“I have just been so impressed with the devotion they have had to each project,” she said.
Fulmer said they plan on expanding the garden for next year.
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Members of the Herkimer Junior High Community Service group did not stop helping out when they took the summer off from school this year.
Donna Fulmer, seventh grade science teacher and advisor to the group, said members took turns caring for a community garden at the school, including watering, fertilizing and harvesting the crop.
The community garden was started up this summer after the donation of Beech-Nut bins from a former school advisor and then soil for the bins from an anonymous donation. Fulmer said she took the idea to the students who were excited to get started on the project.
So far, this summer, the garden has yielded over 10 gallons of vegetables, including beets, tomatoes, cucumbers and spinach. The food, after it’s harvested, is then donated to local food pantries, including salads for Shepherd’s Table.
“We’re trying to make a difference and we like to get our hands dirty,” said Shannon Cool, an eighth grader with the group, as she worked in the garden on Friday. “We hope other students will start it at their schools.”
Cool worked on pulling out beets from one of the garden bins with the help of other eighth-graders with the group, Nicole Zaleski and Dominique Pizzo-Palumbo. Fulmer helped the students figure out the best way to pull out the beets and advised them to wrap them up quickly so the leaves did not wilt.
Zaleski said it also becomes a learning experience, as much as it is a helping experience.
“It helps other people and teaches me how to grow things,” she said.
Some of the other projects the group have participated in include a CROP Walk at Folts Home, visited with residents at Valley Health Services and recycling over 100 pounds of paper in the school. Fulmer said she also taught the students how to sew to make blankets and pillows for children staying at the Ronald McDonald House at Christmastime. For the Ronald McDonald project, Fulmer said the students would come in on their lunch breaks and study hall to help get the pillows and blankets done in time for Christmas.
“I have just been so impressed with the devotion they have had to each project,” she said.
Fulmer said they plan on expanding the garden for next year.
