Franklin Avenue Elementary Garden Club Earns Grant

The Franklin Avenue Elementary School Garden Club keeps on growing - so much so that there is a waiting list for students to participate.

"It's really fantastic," said Franklin Avenue principal Carla Silberstein. "It's a great way to engage the kids."

The Rockland Community Foundation agrees -- which is why the foundation awarded one of its three Innovative Teaching Grants to Franklin Avenue teacher Janet Fenton for the school's garden club Monday.

"We’re very proud of your teacher, We’re very, very proud of this school, your principal and all of the teachers and all the things you do," Rockland Community Foundation president Patrick Byrne told a group of assembled students and teachers.

"I think what was really so impressive about what they are doing here at Franklin Elementary Schoool is they wer eable to tie in math and science and ELA and really make it unique and innovative," said Neil Winters, a member of the board who joined Byrne in awarding the $450 check to Fenton.

Fenton said that the money will be used to buy special equipment that will enhance the garden, including a special grow light stand, seeds and soil. This will allow students to observe more of the process up close and to continue the garden club's activities during the winter.

Last year, they grew over 60 pounds of vegetables and herbs that they were able to donate to St. Ann's Conf. of St. Vincent de Paul, a food pantry in Nyack.  

"The other nice thing is they are all giving back to the community," Winters said. "The plants that they raise, they will give to a local food pantry. That really made it unique and innovative. It teaches them more than the ABC’s. It teaches them to give back to the community. That’s really what the Community Foundation is about."

Fenton organizes the club, which is in its third year. It is open to third and fourth graders adn began with 24 students and now has 50. They plan and plant  the school's 9/11 Memorial, which includes a beam from the site, and the courtyard gardens.

The children are given some control over the process. Last year, they voted to expand the butterfly garden in the courtyard and to add plants that would help support Painted Lady Butterflies, which they observe as part of their science curriculum.

This year they voted to add a pumkpin garden, a strawberry patch and a pizza garden, which includes ingredients needed for pizza such as gardlic, tomatoes and onions.

The other two grants were awarded to Haverstraw Middle School and Strawtown Elementary School in West Nyack.