PHS students help younger gardeners at Criss
From left, Parkersburg High School Native Roots Club students Morgan Poling, Sophomore, and Milez Ware, Junior, sort through produce from a garden at Criss Elementary School Wednesday afternoon. (Photo by Gwen Sour)
From left, Criss Elementary School Fifth-graders Ava Gault and Livie Pfeifer dig holes to plant flower bulbs at Wednesday afternoon. (Photo by Gwen Sour)
From left, Parkersburg High School Native Roots Club member Nikki Rather alongside Lisa Wynn prepares flower bulbs for planting Wednesday afternoon at Criss Elementary School. (Photo by Gwen Sour)
Students at Criss Elementary School garden alongside students from Parkersburg High School's Native Roots club Wednesday afternoon. (Photo by Gwen Sour)
From left, Parkersburg High School Native Roots Club students Morgan Poling, Sophomore, and Milez Ware, Junior, sort through produce from a garden at Criss Elementary School Wednesday afternoon. (Photo by Gwen Sour)
From left, Criss Elementary School Fifth-graders Ava Gault and Livie Pfeifer dig holes to plant flower bulbs at Wednesday afternoon. (Photo by Gwen Sour)
From left, Parkersburg High School Native Roots Club member Nikki Rather alongside Lisa Wynn prepares flower bulbs for planting Wednesday afternoon at Criss Elementary School. (Photo by Gwen Sour)
Students at Criss Elementary School garden alongside students from Parkersburg High School's Native Roots club Wednesday afternoon. (Photo by Gwen Sour)
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PARKERSBURG - Parkersburg High School’s Native Roots Club helped Criss Elementary School students harvest vegetables, prepare garden beds for winter and plant flower bulbs during a visit Wednesday afternoon.
The garden contains tomatoes, several varieties of peppers and perennial plants, including milkweed and bee balm.
Students sorted through harvested produce so some could be sent home with the elementary school students – the produce includes Anaheim peppers, jalapeños and tomatoes.
PHS student Nikki Rather, who jokingly described herself as the club’s president, although it does not have a formal one, said students have taken on more responsibilities as the club as grown. One of the responsibilities includes visits to other elementary schools within the wood County Schools system and working at gardens and greenhouse spaces.
Rather said PHS science teacher Abby Taylor started the club about five years ago. Rather joined during its second year after a friend encouraged her to participate.
“(Abby) Taylor opened the club five years ago, but it was like two kids,” Rather said. “Then the third year, we kind of started taking off, and I started organizing trips (to the other schools) with her, and that’s how all this started.”
Some club members are organizing projects independently this year, Rather said, referencing her plans to lead a similar project with another elementary school.
The work at Criss included removing annual vegetable plants while leaving perennials in place. Criss elementary school fourth and fifth graders, led by PHS students, dug into the garden and helped plant bulbs that will flower after winter.
Lisa wynn, a community volunteer with Indigo wildwood, supports the Native Roots Club and its gardening work and helps act as a supervisor for the students while they work in the gardens.
Dr. Beth Wade, librarian for Criss Elementary, said she invited the club members to work with the students after learning about the existing partnership and she helped divide the elementary school students into small groups to work alongside the PHS students.
“Be prepared to get your hands dirty,” Wade said.