The peterson patch-our school garden

 The Peterson Patch is Peterson Elementary's school garden. Located adjacent to the TK and Kindergarten common area, it is especially enjoyed by the younger members of the Peterson community. The Peterson Garden is a beautiful place where students and faculty alike can experience all the garden has to offer;  planting or harvesting vegetables, creating a beautiful bouquet of flowers, sharing a book with friends, or simply sitting under our beautiful Peppermint Willow tree embracing the day. A large variety of wildlife calls the Peterson Patch home; butterflies, birds, lizards, bees and many other small creatures can frequently be observed while spending time in the garden.

More and more is asked of our young people everyday, and while there is a lot of learning that happens in the garden, it also offers them a place of refuge from the rigors and expectations that our complex world places upon them.  The garden is a place where we can all shed the worries of the day, get our hands in the dirt, and our faces in the sun. It's a place for us to learn about ourselves and our place in the world...and of course how our food is grown.

Lovingly maintained by an amazing group of dedicated volunteers, The Peterson Patch grows vegetables, flowers, and native plants and shrubs. We would love for you to help us maintain this amazing space and there are many volunteer opportunities available. Don't have a green thumb? Don't worry! As a learning garden, we can teach you all you need to know to help keep the Peterson Patch a very special place.

The Peterson Patch holds Garden Volunteer Days on some weekends, and during these days, many volunteers come to the garden and conduct regular and seasonally required maintenance. Sometimes there are also bigger tasks to conquer that need more people to accomplish, but we try and give a heads up about those things.  

Since the fastest way to make a child hate gardening is to force them to do it, we also supply a craft to keep the kids occupied while the adults work. It is a great way to spend a day and meet some amazing people! Plus, you'll likely also end up taking home some flowers and produce for your efforts. Tools and gloves are available for use. Please wear closed-toe shoes and activity appropriate clothing. Sun protection is also encouraged.

Please come anytime between 10am and 2pm!

UPCOMING GARDEN VOLUNTEER DATES:

Sunday, September 15th - 10am-2pm

Sunday, September 29th - 10am-2pm

Sunday, October 20th - 10am-2pm

Sunday, November 17th - 10am-2pm

Email Garden@PetersonPTA.org with any questions or comments, or for more information. 

If you want to volunteer but are unable to join us on the weekends volunteer days, please reach out to Garden@PetersonPTA.org with your availability so we can figure out a time that works for you. Please note, that if you are planning to volunteer during the school day, you do need to have a current TB test and all the required volunteer paperwork submitted with the front office. 

If you'd like to contribute something material to the garden, please consider donating something off of our wish list.

To contact the Garden team, co-chaired by Melanie and Rosann, please email Garden@PetersonPTA.org.