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Students use their green thumbs for a good cause

Students are learning how to use their green thumb to give back to their community. Science classes at the Bonnyville Centralized High School (BCHS) planted seeds, picked weeds, and watered plants in a garden behind the school.
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Students of BCHS have used their green thumbs to grow a garden, with some of the produce being donated to the local food bank.

Students are learning how to use their green thumb to give back to their community.


Science classes at the Bonnyville Centralized High School (BCHS) planted seeds, picked weeds, and watered plants in a garden behind the school.


“It’s really good for the kids,” explained Rachel Hunt, a science teacher at BCHS. “In the summer, by the end of the day the kids are getting tired.”


Hunt noted that taking care of the garden during the school year gave students something to look forward to, and incentive to get all their work done for the day.


Organizer and educational aide Terry Bouvier asked school administration to create a garden at BCHS. They used flowerbeds already available for the project.


“The students had to do an investigation on what plants would grow in Alberta and what you can do with some of the plants,” Bouvier explained.


In some cases, youth who aren’t even in one of the classes participating were getting involved.


Bouvier said students “get such a kick” out of watching their plants grow.


Hunt noted that most of the students respond positively to the project.


This year, they’re growing anything from carrots to beets, and potatoes to cucumbers.


“Kind of standard vegetables that grow pretty well, and aren’t too high maintenance,” Hunt explained.


The process started in May, and will wrap up in the fall with a final harvest. Using some of their vegetables, they make borsch, which is a hardy soup with beets, usually served with sour cream.


The project not only teaches the students about giving back to their community, but also where their food comes from.


“Lots of kids didn’t realize that carrots come from carrot seeds,” Bouvier expressed. “Or the fact that you can put a potato in the ground, and it grows. There’s a lot of kids who don’t have the experience of having a garden at home. Things come from a grocery store, they don’t come from a garden.”


Students had to decide what they should do with the leftover vegetables, and chose to make a donation to the local food bank.


“It’s teaching them how to be a part of society, and part of being in a society is helping out your community. Understanding that by helping others, you’re going to benefit yourself, as well,” said Hunt.


The garden has been harvested once already this summer, and another harvest is planned for September.


This is the second year classes have helped take care of the garden space at BCHS. Hunt hopes to continue the program to help local students’ knowledge of gardening grow.

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