Provided by Prince William County Schools (PWCS)
The Virginia Cooperative Extension (Prince William County Unit) awarded a $450 grant to support Featherstone Elementary School’s school garden. The garden is helping students learn about growing fruits, vegetables, and plants.
Emily Sasz, Featherstone Elementary Virginia Preschool Initiative (VPI+) teacher, started the garden in 2016 with just one garden bed. With support from the school’s Parent Teacher Organization (PTO), the school now has several garden beds. Students in all grade levels participate in a weekly gardening club where they learn how to plant, weed, water, harvest, and care for the garden.
Alyson Nourse-Miller, former PWCS associate superintendent, and Christina Hastings, a parent volunteer, assist with the gardens and in planting flowers to beautify the school grounds. Both are members of the Master Gardeners of Prince William. The two collaborated with staff to apply for the grant.
“We are very proud of staff and students and thankful for Nourse-Miller and Hastings for their support of the school gardens,” Principal Daria Groover said.
Featherstone Elementary School’s garden was recently featured in the Master Gardeners of Prince William County’s monthly newsletter, ‘The Turnip News.’
The Virginia Cooperative Extension is a joint effort by Virginia Tech University, the University of Virginia, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and state and local governments.
