Permits Needed
While the school has a Crown Point address, we are located within the boundaries of the town of Merrillville. The town was contacted and it is understood that no special permits are needed for the community garden. The Principal/Garden Coordinator will be attending an environmental class presented by the town of Merrillville. A permit is needed for the fencing and that will be obtained by the company installing the fence. No other policies or permits were discovered during research.
The Garden
The Avicenna Academy school community proposes that we create a community garden in the spring of 2012. The proposal is that we create a garden that is 80' x 55' located on the school grounds for convenience. The site where the proposed garden will be placed is located just north of the school's parking lot on a 10 acre plot of land that is privately owned and was offered to the school for the sole purpose of being used for a community garden.
The most popular design submitted by the students includes several rectangular plots. Students propose to grow the following plants: carrots, potatoes, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, cucumbers, egg plant, broccoli, green beans, onions, garlic, mint, strawberries, peppers and zucchini. A 5' x 80' section of the garden will be reserved for flowering plants and a seating area. The goal is that this area will make a beautiful outdoor classroom area for those involved in the garden. Two compost stations will be built, one for food compost and one for horse manure, the chosen fertilizer for the whole garden. An industrious student has designed a small storage area/tool shed that he plans to build with the help of a community member. The entire garden area will be fenced in with a 5' tall chain link fence. The fence will serve as a barrier to large herbivorous fauna such as deer, which are prevalent in this area. The dark blue rectangles represent the proposed locations for the rain barrel stations. Rain barrels will be used to collect the water needed for the crops.
The garden area will be prepped in March 2012 by clearing the space and tilling the soil found in the location chosen. Horse manure and peat will be worked into the soil. Elevated beds will be built throughout March, so that they will be ready when the site is ready. The fence will be installed after the elevated beds go in, but before the crops are planted. The rain barrels and benches will be placed after the fence goes in and the crops will be planted. Marigolds will be planted on the outside of the fence, to deter insect pests. The tool shed and the compost storage areas will be built in April 2012.
Plan for Crop
The majority of the crop will be donated to the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana. A small portion of the mint, garlic and other foods will be kept and sold at a farmer's market that Avicenna Academy's student council will run. The money earned from the farmer's market will go back into supporting the community garden.
Student Involvement
Our entire school is involved in the planning of and eventual care for the community garden. Once the community garden is funded and ground is broken, the students will participate in the following ways:
Grade | Task(s) |
PS & K | help lay mulch on walkways, help paint the benches & signs |
1 | help lay mulch on walkways, help paint the benches & signs |
2 | help lay mulch on walkways, help paint the benches & signs |
3 | build rain barrel systems |
4 | build rain barrel systems |
5 | build compost storage facilities, build elevated beds |
6 & 7 | Build storage shed, build elevated beds, alter soil pH in elevated beds |
In addition to the tasks listed above, each student and volunteer will be involved in planting the crops chosen.
