May 2025 Update:
Elkhart Intermediate School is pleased to announce the completion of its new outdoor classroom. From four raised garden beds, to a permanent outdoor learning space available to students kindergarten through fifth grade, Elkhart is growing more than just vegetables. A ribbon cutting ceremony for the Outdoor Classroom was held on 05/05/2025.
February 2025 Update:
The garden is mostly in a deep freeze at the moment, but we did plant potatoes the first week of the month and there are cabbages that hopefully will be ready to harvest next week.
The flower beds on 2 sides of the outdoor classroom have been filled with compost and now have all of the pavers in place for the retaining wall and the borders. The money for these pavers is from the $7,000 that we put in escrow for this project. Thanks to Charlotte’s forethought we also have emerging bulbs with the promise of spring blooms!
The gifted and talented class of 5th graders helped place 130 pavers and planted the potatoes on February 6th. They also cleared the bed of dead green bean plants and spread the cow manure compost in 2 of the raised beds. Our soil sample in one of the beds showed very low nitrogen, so we are amending that soil in order to have a successful spring crop.
October 2024 Update:
Compost and bermuda sod were installed around the pavilion of the Elkhart Intermediate School Outdoor Classroom.
September 2024 Update:
Solarization training while concrete is being poured for the outdoor classroom.
May 2024 Update:
Master gardeners Pam Denson, Pat Jolly and intern Molly Raine led students in harvesting produce the last week of school.
