Students at Lincoln Elementary maintain school gardens as part of the Green Thumbs Club
Last Wednesday, Lincoln Elementary third graders Journey Moore and Poey OhWow-Godsey spent the evening at school.
They hadn’t brought their textbooks. Instead, they were there to weed and plant with the Lincoln Elementary Green Thumbs Gardening Club.
Founded by Lincoln Elementary School teacher Jamie Hooten, the club is open to all current Lincoln Elementary School students.
The club has been around for more than eight years, Hooten said. When she started the Green Thumbs Club, it was open only to her fifth-graders and had a garden plot in the old Bedford Community Garden on 22nd Street.and Street. In 2016, the Master Gardeners donated garden beds for Lincoln’s courtyard. Hooten then decided to establish the club school-wide.
In 2017, Hooten became a Master Gardener herself. Regarding the funding of the club, Hooten explained:
“Everything the Green Thumbs Club has in terms of materials and facilities has either been donated or a grant has been applied for. We are not funded by the school,” Hooten explained.
Hooten said enthusiasm grew so much that the second year the club was opened to all students, 92 children participated. After that, Hooten limited the number of children enrolled to 40.
“It’s impossible to keep track of 92 children,” Hooten said.
This is the first year that Hooten has allowed students to enroll in the summer, which has allowed for more flexibility in scheduling weekly meetings.
“Since the summer is busy, I look at the weather forecast and then ask the members which evening would suit them best,” said Hooten.
There are two garden plots. One is on the south side of the gymnasium and the other is in the school yard. Products grown include tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, green beans, peppers, cucumbers, garlic, watermelons, cantaloupe, and strawberries. There are also young persimmon trees. The Green Thumbs mulch persimmons every year.
Milkweed is grown on one of the farm’s properties because it provides food for butterflies. It is especially helpful for monarch butterflies, Hooten said.
Hooten explained that the gardeners started the plants in late spring so they would be fully grown by fall when all the students returned. The Green Thumbs are also one of the vendors at the Bedford Farmers Market every Saturday, selling plants they have grown themselves.
For more information about the Green Thumbs Club, visit the Green Thumbs Facebook page.
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