Alternative Spring Break Program Leaves Its Mark at Mabelvale Magnet Middle School

Mabelvale Magnet Middle School was fortunate enough to host 12 volunteer college students from Northeastern University participating in their Alternative Spring Break program from March 5th-9th. While most Alternative Spring Break groups work in the main building at the Arkansas Children’s Hospital, this group was given the opportunity to work with the Delta Garden Study at Mabelvale Magnet Middle School. The spring breakers were happy to work out in the community and spend their spring break working in a school garden.

The students arrived on March 5th to the ACH Nutrition center to meet with the DGS staff and get acquainted with the program they would be working for. They were taken on a detailed tour of the main hospital and nutrition center and then given time to eat lunch in the ACH cafeteria. After meeting with ACH, DGS, and Nutrition Center staff, the students drove out to Mabelvale for a tour of the Garden and Greenhouse. Once they arrived the students were given a tour of the garden, greenhouse, and school grounds by Kristy Brownell, their AmeriCorps host site supervisor for the week.

Over the next four days the students helped to complete a multitude of garden projects that would not have been possible without their help. Along with weeding, tilling, harvesting, propagating, and cooking, the students learned how to build French intensive raised beds and to construct a rainwater harvesting system. They put this knowledge to immediate use and built up a 2,500 square foot lettuce garden to be used for Mabelvale’s Garden to Cafeteria pilot project. The students also helped build a chicken coop and settle the Mabelvale chickens into their new home. Working with the students at Mabelvale was a highlight for the volunteers. They were able to participate in harvesting and recipe tastings with 6th grade science classes, during which they discussed their college experiences with the students.

By the end of week the students looked very pleased as they walked through the school grounds admiring their lettuce garden, chicken coop, and a rainwater harvesting system they had worked on. All of these projects were completed with the help of Mabelvale students and faculty member Graham Goodloe. While discussing the success of their week, the students agreed that connecting with Mabelvale students and faculty members was the important part of their experience.

The spring break students’ service had a positive effect on the Mabelvale Community, leaving Mabelvale students, faculty, and staff asking where they were the next week and when they would be coming back! The Mabelvale community thanks the Northeastern University Alternative Spring Break program and the amazing students who volunteered to help us!