Monticello

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Mabelvale Garden Update »Mabelvale Garden Update This past week, Karl Heinbockel and fellow Delta Garden Study interns have had the opportunity to escape the fluorescent lights of the office and work in the bright sunshine at the Mabelvale Magnet Middle School gardens and greenhouse. In spite of the oppressive heat, there is still much to do to prepare for the coming school year at Mabelvale Magnet Middle School. We are removing the residue from last year's crops (and weeds!) and replacing them with a buckwheat cover crop to revitalize the soil. The buckwheat cover crop suppresses weed growth and once tilled in will add important organic material back into the soil. This allows new plants the ample nutrients necessary to blossom with great vigor. Healthy soil has been our focus this summer. In the fall, we will concentrate our efforts at producing a variety of food crops with the help of our students at Mabelvale! In the coming weeks, we will be continuing to clean up and organize the garden and greenhouse spaces so that this school year will be a great one for Delta Garden Study's showcase garden - Mabelvale!

FrontPage Article »See the Progress on our New Gardens! Don't forget to visit our Garden Schools’ webpages for pictures and stories about the progress of our new gardens. Liana, Kevin, Ryan and Cale have been busy developing their sites, planting a late summer garden, and getting to know their communities. Many thanks to all of their community members who have donated materials, equipment and labor!

About The Delta Garden Study »About The Delta Garden Study The Delta Garden Study is a $2 million research study funded by the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service designed to prevent childhood obesity and social risk behaviors, and improve academic achievement, in middle school children in the Delta and Central regions of Arkansas.

Monticello Featured Student: Hunter Workman

I like going to the garden. I like making the food for the other kids. I learned a lot about how the plants work and grow. I like working with my friends to do stuff. I also like eating the food and making that stuff at home with my family. That’s why I like the garden!

Garden Program Specialist

Liana Harden

Although I grew up in central Oklahoma, I recently moved to Arkansas after spending several years in Portland, Oregon. Outside of gardening with youth, I love to spend time playing outside, getting to know the native ecology of Arkansas, playing music with good friends, and eating food that is healthy for myself and our community.

FoodCorps Service Member

Katy Brantley

I am from Nashville, Tennessee and spent the last four years in Conway, Arkansas working towards my bachelors degree in environmental studies at Hendrix College. I will be spending the next year in Monticello, Arkansas, working at the Monticello Middle School. I am thrilled to tend to the garden and work with students, using the garden as a unique opportunity for hands-on learning of the science curriculum.

Meet the Staff

From left to right- Jerry Martens, Principal, Robin McMurry, 6th grade Science Teacher, Amanda Terry, 7th grade Science Teacher, Randy Lay, Assistant Principal

Monticello Middle School Website

To find out more about Monticello Middle School, visit their website at http://monticello.ar.schoolwebpages.com.