Directory of Gardens

Briscoe Elementary School Garden

 

Location 321 Forest Hill, 77011, East End, southeast Houston
Main Purpose Education of the students at Briscoe
Established 2002
To Visit or to Volunteer Contact Briscoe - call Urban Harvest for contact info

 

Briscoe Elementary School is located in the southeast part of Houston. The school has a very high Hispanic population, at least 90%, and many of the parents speak only Spanish. This language barrier between the parents and the non Spanish speaking teachers makes it difficult for parents to be involved in some of their children's activities.

 

In November 2002, a group of parents, Gary Edmondson from Urban Harvest, and students from Austin High School built four garden beds. Two of the twenty-foot beds are exclusively for parent use. The other two are for students to use as part of their school curriculum. The purpose of the parent beds is to teach the parents how to grow their own food and at the same time have the parents involved in some aspect of their child's school. Starting in January, the parents began to meet on a weekly basis.

 

In addition to the beds there is also a habitat garden. The four beds and gardens are merely the first phase of the whole garden design. In February 2003 there are plans to build four additional beds. In the final phase a gazebo and a small orchard will also be installed.