Palm Valley Academy and St. Johns County
Master Gardeners get Living Classroom
I
n July, a group of 30 volunteers built 12 raised gardens
beds at Palm Valley Academy. The gardens will serve
as living classrooms and will be tended by students,
teachers and volunteers.
The UF/IFAS Extension St. Johns County Master Gardener
Program, coordinated by Horticulture Extension Agent,
Terra Freeman, was awarded a $1500 grant from the
Florida Master Gardener Legacy Fund to expand garden
enrichment opportunities offered in county schools.
“Whether they are learning about soil science, growing
vegetables, or providing plants for pollinators, this
community effort is sure to be appreciated by students
for years to come,” said Horticulture Extension Agent,
Terra Freeman.
bed, the newspaper was topped with a yard of compost
and a bale of peat moss to provide a rich soil blend for
growing vegetables or flowers. Each bed was topped
with a layer of landscape fabric to keep the weeds at
bay until the beds are planted.
“This was a great team effort, providing that many
hands make for light work,” said PVA Principal Jessica
Richardson. “In just over two hours, volunteers worked
together to create 12 raised garden beds that will
provide countless learning opportunities for all of our
students. It was a wonderful way to spend a Saturday
morning.”
The process involved constructing 12 raised beds out of
pre-cut lumber, followed by laying down thick layers
of newspaper to naturally kill grass and weeds. In each
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