Wiregrass Ranch High School’s Earth club broke ground on their new garden last week on December 11th. The biggest goals for the garden this year are to teach students the importance for gardening and the basics of how to maintain a garden. 13 members participated in the garden build day.

The club was able to set-up three garden beds, a U-shaped bed, and an irrigation system for the garden. Vine-related plants and plants that grow well together will go in the U-shaped bed. After setting up the beds, the club members put down weed mats to block out the grass from underneath. Then soil was wheelbarrowed into the beds. The club plans to set up a few more beds with leftover materials when students return in January.

The irrigation system for the garden comes from a water faucet attached to portable eight. The club had to dig a trench and place the irrigation pipes underground to get the water source to the garden. 

“I am very happy we are going to have a garden on campus; it’ll be a great way to teach students important life skills that they can take home with them and maybe carry onto in their personal lives,” President of Earth club Kara Weihman said.

There will be different committees to help keep things organized, but the gardening work will depend on who participates on gardening days. Romauld Thomas and Samer Khatib will be in charge of the Hydroponic aspects of the garden.

Various herbs, flowers, fruits, and vegetables will be planted after the winter break. Members from the club took home small pots on Wednesday in order to germinate the plants before they are planted in the garden.

“I think it’ll be great for the students and staff to have a garden easy access on campus,” Club member Sara Novitsky said. “It’ll give our school the chance to have fresh fruits and vegetables.”

The club is hopeful to start seeing growth from the flowers in February and the remaining plants in March or April.

“I am very excited for the students to learn how to cultivate, plant and grow,” Earth club sponsor Nicolette Hewitt explained. “I can’t wait to see what we can do throughout the rest of the year and what we will produce. I am honestly most excited for the bee-friendly flowers that we will grow, but I can’t wait for all of it.”