The class of first-graders at Churchville-Chili’s Chestnut Ridge School divided themselves into groups of “trees” and “bees.”
The happy student bees ran quickly from tree to tree, collecting and transferring pollen. However, when Instructional Coach Andrea Lynch explained that many bees throughout the country are now too sick to fly quickly, the young “sick” bees slowed the pace of their pollination to a crawl. Students quickly understood the important role healthy bees play in growing apples and peaches.
The exercise was just one part of a morning of learning about how things grow. Aided by volunteer sixth-grade gardeners from the Middle School and visiting community experts, the CRS students prepared themselves for a big role in the future of the school’s Garden of the Saints.
They are setting up a vermicomposting system that will deliver much-needed nutrients to the garden that was created by classes at the district’s Middle and High Schools last year. The composting project received its funding from an Earth Day Grant from the Genesee Finger Lakes Chapter of the Air and Waste Management Association.
Master Gardener Linda Groves explained to the students how red worms create castings that enrich the soil. Local farmer Kim Zuber spoke about the importance of healthy soil in growing abundant feed for people and for animals like cows and sheep.
The Middle School gardeners shared their knowledge with hands-on demonstrations of preparing and planting vertical gardens, using alternative growing mediums and creating easy watering systems.
One CRS student questioned how they would get their completed compost from Chestnut Ridge to the garden on Fairbanks Road. “Great question,” said Lynch. “Part of your challenge is to be creative and to think of ways we can do that.”
The participating sixth-graders from the Middle School included: Sydney Bailey, Audrey Booth, Charlie Bromage, Megan Bromage, Ryann Calus, Elaina DeSantis, Allie Draper, Cole Faker, Drew Hambley, Blossom Ibezim, Noah Jenkins, Charley Kuhlkin, Dylan McFadden, Mason Moody, Jett Neglia, Caleb Pape, Zach Piper and Jesse Ward.
Provided information
“Bees” and “trees” take advantage of a sunny spring morning at Churchville-Chili’s Chestnut Ridge Elementary to learn about pollination. Provided photo
