Directory of Gardens

Sutton Elementary School Garden

The Sutton Elementary School Garden is a green oasis amidst southwest Houston. This organic garden includes vegetable beds, a pond, many fruit trees, a grape arbor, a rose and flower garden, a wildflower area, a wall mural, and composting bins. The project has become an interactive outdoor learning center for the students, teachers, and parents.

The project began in 1997 as an effort to address a vandalism problem at the school. Under the leadership of teacher Barbara Botsford and former Sutton teacher Calvin Rains, the idea of a school garden evolved into a workable plan.

 

 

With the crucial encouragement of former Urban Harvest Board member Mark Cotham, funding from Chapelwood United Methodist Church, design assistance from then Urban Harvest Board President Suzy Fischer, horticultural advice from Urban Harvest’s Bob Randall and Ray Sher, and the enormous volunteer efforts of many Sutton supporters in and out of the school, the garden and orchard finally ‘took root’ and has continued to grow and thrive.

 

The benefits have been enormous. The school’s children come predominately from apartments in urban environments with little interaction with nature. The children enthusiastically maintain the garden, learn responsibility, watch fruits and vegetables grow, and look forward to the next planting and harvest. They write about the garden in their journals and sing garden songs prepared by their music teacher. The new life in the garden has sparked new energy throughout the school.

 

The teachers who faithfully participate in garden activities with their classes can see first hand the good effects of gardening. It lends itself to a more positive attitude about school in general. Children want to come to school. They enjoy learning about good nutrition and eating healthily as their teacher assists them in cooking vegetables in their own classroom. This year we are trying to focus on donating a portion of our vegetables to a nearby food pantry.

 

A Special Education social worker teacher of the hearing-impaired comes on campus twice a week. After having a garden tour one August, she couldn’t wait to get involved with the garden. This teacher finds that the garden is perfect for teaching her handicapped children the benefits of teamwork. They learn that they must cooperate with each other and work together in order to get good results.

 

In October of 2000, thanks to a recommendation from Urban Harvest, Sutton was honored to receive the Mayor’s Proud Partner 2000 award from Keep Houston Beautiful. The award was given for the vegetable garden, fruit tree orchard, rose garden, pond, compost area and the fifty-foot long garden-related mural. A granite plaque now hangs in the school office and can be admired by all. Those who attended the October 19th event enjoyed a delicious meal and stately ceremony of honor with many city dignitaries. This honor sparked an article in the Houston Chronicle in This Week (dated November 29th) and an interview on HISD TV’s Issues and Answers.

 

In 2001 Sutton was designated a SPARK PARK. Fiesta donated $5,000 toward this cause. The PTO and different teachers are having many fundraiser events in order to reach our goal.

 

Recent additions to the garden include the grape arbor designed by Suzy Fischer and constructed by Mark Cotham. The students use the arbor area for study, journal writing and lecture. HISD built a much-needed handicapped accessible walkway through the garden. Thanks to the generosity of Mark Cotham and Chapelwood United Methodist Church, the garden received picnic tables and benches. Upcoming plans include adding two more raised vegetable beds, one of which will be for handicapped individuals.

 

Since the appointment of science teacher Patricia Kehler, Sutton is really becoming environmentally aware. Besides the garden area, Sutton has developed a Schoolyard Habitat between the first and second wing buildings. There are two 22 foot by 6 foot flower and shrub beds dug with top soil in them, plans to add another 16 foot by 13 foot bed soon. The school plans on planting flowers, trees, and shrubs that are native to Texas. There are already two wildflower areas established and we’re in the beginning phases of a 29-foot by 32 foot pond that will have a wooden deck halfway around it. We want to give the students a place to study, and to observe first-hand the life cycle of such things as butterflies and tadpoles. Actually seeing these life cycles in person is more exciting than looking at pictures of them in a book.

 

Botsford has raised subsequent funding from various other sources including HISD, CACH, and the National Gardening Association and has managed to attract occasional volunteer groups to help with maintenance. Botsford is quick to point out, however, that the garden always needs more supporters.

 

 

2311 Canal St., Suite 122, Houston, TX 77003
713-880-5540 •