Friends of ACES Greening Event

February 10, 2008

In the spring of 2007, led by their EarthCare Team, the staff and students of Adrienne Clarkson Elementary School took their first steps towards transforming their school grounds. It began with a visit from Evergreen Consultant, Ann Coffey. Thanks to the support of Adrienne Clarkson Elementary School Council, Ms Coffey was able to spend several days at the school surveying the property and leading brainstorming sessions with each class of students and teachers. These ideas, suggestions, and sketches are being used to develop a basic concept plan and then a formal landscape design will be developed with the help of Evergreen Consultant, Jeff Kaster.

Phase 1 of this multi-year project involved the students, staff, parents, and surrounding community members in the care and maintenance of existing school plantings. In the early Fall, Ms Coffey’s recommendations were shared with the students and on October 18th all of the students and staff were busy cleaning and weeding the garden beds and areas under the trees during a Buddy Event.

With a grant from the City of Ottawa’s Green Partnership Program, Friends of A.C.E.S. Greening Committee was able to purchase compost, mulch, and the supplies needed to amend the soil surrounding the existing school plantings. On October 20th, over 50 volunteers (students, parents, staff and community members) came out on a chilly Saturday to help move the huge piles of compost and mulch. Community members and local businesses also contributed by supplying coffee, pizza, and rental equipment.

The first step in transforming the grounds at Adrienne Clarkson Elementary School was a huge success due to the ownership the students have taken in our school greening project!