St. Stephens grows community gardeners, teaches social responsibility
WARWICK The children of St. Stephens School in Warwick are enjoying the fruits of their labors by donating freshly grown vegetables to the Warwick Ecumenical Food Pantry.
Long before Spring, the students were busy germinating seeds and caring for seedlings that they later planted in the new St. Stephens Community Garden.
The garden, consisting of raised beds, was recently constructed by Eagle Scout Philip Juliano.
The students, together with community garden coordinator for the school, Eliana Higgins, and the classroom teachers are witnessing the miracle of new life and rebirth while learning plant cycles, gardening techniques, social responsibility and community service.
The community garden continues to be cared for by a group of gardeners from the St. Stephens community. The children enjoy this work which will further their enrichment as the community garden continues to provide fresh produce to the food pantry.
The Rev. Michael McLoughlin, pastor of St. Stephens Parish, invited Principal Mary Lou Moccia to allow the children to participate in the parish effort. The teachers incorporated the project in their science and art lessons and teacher Tim Cooper volunteered his sunlit classroom (enhanced with growing lights) to nurture the seedlings.
The older students partnered with younger ones to take them across to the garden, located on the Pennings Field, and help them plant the seedlings.
The efforts are now paying off. Contributions of peas, radishes and spinach have already been made to the food pantry and many other varieties of vegetables are growing and being nurtured in the garden beds.
The students are really making a connection from seeds to harvesting and then sharing it with the ecumenical pantry.