Story by Jen Jordan / September 22, 2016
Within the first full month of the new school year, a local nonprofit specializing in school gardens and related curriculum has experienced an unprecedented growth spurt thanks to a new collaboration.
The Green Heart Project is partnering with SeamonWhiteside, a Mount Pleasant-based civil engineering and landscape architecture firm, to build three new, multi-phased school gardens this year.
The first phases of the gardens at two of those three schools — one at Sullivan’s Island Elementary and another at Meeting Street Elementary @ Brentwood in North Charleston — were built with staff and volunteers from both the nonprofit and the firm over the past two weekends.
Those first phases were raised beds, featuring a water-saving, “wicking” irrigation system. Subsequent phases call for a native species gardens and orchards.
At 4 p.m. Tuesday, staff from Green Heart and SeamonWhiteside are set to join Charleston County School District and Brentwood staff for a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the school on Leeds Avenue.
Green Heart Director Drew Harrison said the third school to get a garden, or “micro-farm,” has yet to be determined but that it will be constructed by the end of the school year.
Regardless, the addition of three new gardens will expand the number of schools that Green Heart has branched out to seven. It started with Charleston’s Mitchell Elementary in 2009 and added Zucker Middle School in 2013.
Last winter, Green Heart started gardens at Sanders-Clyde Creative Arts School in Charleston and Windwood Farm Home for Children in Awendaw.
The latest expansion, Harrison said, is largely due to SeamonWhiteside, which has signed on to be a “community partner,” contributing the equivalent of $25,000 of in-kind services.
SeamonWhiteside assisted through the entire garden design process, including an architectural consultation, charrette, construction drawings and budgeting.
“It has been huge to have SeamonWhiteside come out and help with the design and construction of the gardens,” Harrison said.
Those services come, coincidentally, in the wake of the school district’s new, 60-page manual outlining requirements for school gardens. Harrison added that the manual, which was delivered to Green Heart in late July, was larger and more detailed than he had anticipated.
The Green Heart and SeamonWhiteside collaboration got started, Harrison added, through common connections through the University of Georgia landscape architecture school.
Russ Seamon, the firm’s director of projects, said the firm became interested in helping children learn about healthy food by combining its design expertise with Green Heart’s farming knowledge.
“This partnership gives us the opportunity to give back to our community by doing what we love — building meaningful spaces for people,” Seamon said.
Meanwhile, the effort also gives employees of SeamonWhiteside an opportunity to volunteer together in a hands-on project.
That kind of experience is integral to Green Heart’s approach to teaching students not only about the value of healthy, locally grown food but through related classroom curriculum, teamwork, respect and entrepreneurship.
“From seed to harvest, students participate in every aspect of the agricultural project,” said Harrison.
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Start Your Career!Meeting Street Schools (MSS) is an innovative non-profit where schools, families, and the community collaborate to create environments where all children can achieve their full potential. With a network of schools across South Carolina, including MSA-Charleston (Charleston, SC), MSA-Spartanburg (Spartanburg, SC), MS-Brentwood (North Charleston, SC), MS-Burns (North Charleston, SC), and MS-Jasper & Beaufort (Jasper, SC), we are committed to providing students with the rigorous education they deserve.
Founded on the principle that every child deserves an excellent education regardless of their socio-economic background, Meeting Street Schools has been a beacon of hope and a testament to what's possible in education. Our schools are driven by a strong focus on student achievement, evidence-based instruction, and relentless support of our students and their families.
While united by our shared mission, each MSS campus, is unique in its character, tapping into the local spirit of the communities they serve. Explore each of our schools and discover how they're creating a brighter future for students in South Carolina.
Nestled in the heart of Charleston, South Carolina, MSA Charleston is more than just a school—it’s a hub for innovative learning and community engagement. As part of the Meeting Street Schools network, MSA Charleston embodies a commitment to excellence through its rigorous academic programs, inclusive culture, and focus on developing the whole child. With a curriculum that emphasizes both academic and personal growth, MSA Charleston prepares students to be curious learners and active citizens of their community.
MSA Spartanburg stands as a pillar of educational innovation in the Spartanburg community. The school’s dedicated educators and supportive learning environment ensure that each child receives a high-quality, personalized education with exceptional faculty and teachers. MSA Spartanburg is distinguished by its emphasis on community partnership, fostering relationships that extend beyond the classroom to build a strong foundation for lifelong learning and success.
MS Brentwood is a place where education meets opportunity. Serving the Brentwood area, this school is a testament to the transformative power of education. With a student-centered approach that celebrates diversity and encourages excellence, MS Brentwood is dedicated to equipping students with the skills they need to thrive in the 21st century. MS Brentwood also serves as a hub for the Brentwood community to access educational and wellness services. The school’s commitment to innovation, coupled with a warm, welcoming environment, makes it a standout in the MSS network.
Located in a community rich with history and culture, MS Burns is renowned for its dynamic educational approach that intertwines traditional learning with modern teaching techniques. The school’s focus on experiential learning ensures that students at MS Burns are not only recipients of knowledge but also active participants in their educational journey. MS Burns exists to spark an educational revolution for the students and families in the Dorchester-Waylyn Neighborhood in North Charleston. With a commitment to creating a supportive and challenging academic environment, MS Burns is forging a new path in public education.
MS Jasper represents the Meeting Street Schools’ dedication to community-based education with a global perspective. The school provides a nurturing environment where students are encouraged to explore their potential and cultivate a love for learning. With its diverse programs such as Eureka Math, and Wit and Wisdom, MS Jasper puts a major emphasis on character development, specialized learning and equips students to become thoughtful, engaged members of society, reflecting the MSS ethos of empowerment through education.
“MSA is a family. Once you’re in, you’re in. They said they would follow our kids from K-3 to college and they actually lived up to what they said they would do. Not only did MSA challenge my daughter academically but it also exposed her to new things that she probably wouldn’t have been exposed to at our previous neighborhood school. Our journey at MSA was exciting and rewarding. They actually walk the walk.”
“We come into work everyday truly believing that our students are capable of achieving anything that is put in front of them. Here at MSS, students are provided the opportunity to achieve success through the facilitation of well-educated teachers, resources, and a responsive classroom school environment.”
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