Community

Two Green Thumbs Up For Western Avenue School


ME4E

Western Avenue parents Carrie Malfeo (left) and Maggie Bachus help level the ground before placing another side to the raised garden bed. (PHOTO SUPPLIED)

Steger, IL–(ENEWSPF)– ME4E, Multidisciplinary Education for the Environment, has been working with the PTO at Western Avenue Elementary School in Flossmoor, IL and is proud to announce the green additions to their school’s courtyard. Planning for a GaRRRRden© (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Rethink Garden) started last school year and began with a perennial garden in May of 2009.

This school year a new wood chipped outdoor classroom seating area and a raised planter bed were installed. Both were created with the 4 R’s in mind. Newspapers collected by the school’s Green Team were used as an underlayment to the wood chips that were donated by Wally’s Tree Service of Homewood and the benches were made from salvaged cut tree stumps and reclaimed lumber. The raised bed was built with composite timbers which are made from recycled polyethylene and wood fiber.

GaRRRRden© programs and curriculum are currently being developed by ME4E for the students of Western Avenue. Many teachers are looking forward to utilizing the area and during the construction process some parents even offered to join in on the fun. Additional resources including a compost bin, hydroponic system and vermiculture are planned for 2010.

To learn more about the services ME4E provides, visit www.ME4E.org. They will also be at Central Park Wetlands, a 45 acre wetland/peat bog on September 24th for a National Public Lands Day program from 2-3 pm. Central Park Wetland is one of the best municipal wetland projects in the Chicago region, so don’t miss out. Nurture the budding naturalist in your family and discover a local natural gem with ME4E.


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