When the new neighbors moved in across from Cooper Elementary School, it opened up some unexpected opportunities. Mercy Healthcare and Cooper Elementary are now partners in a project financed by a grant from the General Mills Foundation and supported by area volunteers and businesses.
At 10 a.m. on April 22, ground will be broken for a community garden that will be divided between the west side of the Mercy campus and the school.
Also, coming as part of the same grant is a fitness trail that will lead to Lake Bella Vista, Nicole Crawford of Mercy said.
Students will help plant the garden before summer vacation, Crawford said, and volunteers will help care for the plants over the summer.
Several members of the Master Gardeners Growing Up Green program are involved, Master Gardener Leon Wallis said. He said Mercy employees will help with the big jobs, like watering the raised beds during the summer.
With the focus on nutrition, Crawford expects to see vegetables, fruits and herbs fill most of the beds.
Wallis said a butterfly garden might be included as well.
Andi-K Heart, a volunteer with Americorps has been involved with other school garden projects around the Bentonville district.
One of the goals of the project is to draw attention to childhood obesity and help children learn about healthier choices.
The staff members at Cooper have wanted a school garden for years, Principal Matt Young said, but they didn't have enough support.
This year with the Master Gardeners and Americorps on board, along with Mercy, the staff will have their garden.
"We believe the garden will help our students learn about nutrition, science, and math," Young said. "It will be amazing to see what our kids learn from the garden."
General News on 04/16/2014