Partnering with Sustainable Woodstock!

It takes community partnerships to support and enrich the lives of our children and last week here at WES was a perfect example of how partnerships begin. There are so many amazing organizations in our community and we are fortunate to have begun a new partnership with our friends from Sustainable Woodstock. With what began as a small discussion back in March with Anne Macksoud, is now a reality, planted in the form of 5 thorn less raspberry canes in our front gardens.  Our 2nd and 3rd graders gathered outside to help David Doolittle plant donated raspberries canes (from his garden) in one of our new raised bed gardens.  The students were very curious about these "magical plants" as David called them, and when they would be able to pick the raspberries.  David talked about the canes, showed the students how to plant them, and how we would need to care for them.  We were also joined by Sustainable Woodstock board members, Anne Macksoud and Joby Thompson.  Thank you to Anne, David and Joby for making this yet another enriching experience in the lives of our children.  We look forward to our new partnership together and the endless ways we can help each other! 

WES students help David Doolittle plant raspberry canes, symbolizing the beginning of our new partnership!

 Students gather for the raspberry planting!

CLICK HERE FOR INFORMATION ABOUT SUSTAINABLE WOODSTOCK

3rd grade plants the Three Sisters Garden

Mr. Mumford shows a team of his and Mr.Souter's 3rd grade students how to build a soil mound so that they can plant the corn, beans, and squash in our Three Sisters Garden. The 3rd grade studied Native American history and how the Native Americans grew their own food.  In the fall, the students will harvest the crops and have a harvest dinner.

Do you know what a Three Sisters Garden is? Here is one description taken from www.kidsgardening.com

Native peoples from different parts of North America have used a wide range of agricultural techniques. Perhaps the best known is the interplanting of corn, beans, and squash together a trio often referred to as the "three sisters." In a three sisters planting, the three partners benefit one another. Corn provides support for beans. Beans, like other legumes, have bacteria living on their roots that help them absorb nitrogen from the air and convert it to a form that plants can use. (Corn, which requires a lot of nitrogen to grow, benefits most.) The large, prickly squash leaves shade the soil, preventing weed growth, and deter animal pests. The three sisters also complement each other nutritionally. 

Students get an overview of the Three Sisters Garden planting area.

Students work together in teams to plant each mound.