Porter Traditional School students now have a new place to learn, just steps outside their school building.
The student garden was recently redesigned by Dan Zinski, husband of Larissa Zinski, a sixth-grade teacher at the Woodbridge school, according to a school division news release.
“This garden was built to produce moments of wonder. It’s more than just a garden. It’s a seed sown for the community,” Larissa Zinski said in the release.
The garden previously had only a few beds for vegetables. Now, it includes a mix of herbs, vegetables and flowering plants that attract birds and bees. The garden also includes tabletops where students can work on projects and engage in hands-on learning.
Currently, students are growing herbs like sage, lavender, echinacea and rosemary. The herbs will be dried and donated to free herbal clinics in Northern Virginia. The clinics will use them to make products for people in need, including those affected by natural disasters, the release states.
Porter Traditional has started a new Garden Club to help care for the grounds.
The design of the garden was inspired by the “Grow a Row” program and is supported by local groups like Whole Heart Farms and Merrifield Garden Center.
“The students will also build birdhouses and help bring pollinators to the garden. They’ll even teach others about our mission–Porter Gives Back,” Larissa Zinski said.
Her husband added he has plans to build more gardens at nearby schools.
“It’s a space for learning, giving and growing and we’re just getting started,” said Dan Zinski.
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