Maplewood Garden Club Puts Down Roots at Montrose School

Montrose School and the Maplewood Community Garden are putting down roots together. Master gardeners Irene Dunsavage, Suzie Yamarone and Bill Burgermaster began work Friday on garden plots, some for the students and five available to local families.

“I wanted a school site,” explains Dunsavage. “Bill had the idea of Montrose and we collaborated because of Suzie, who saw our mutual idea.”  

Montrose has a population of 50 students, about 12 of whom have been involved in a small gardening program at the school. The purpose of the current garden, explain members of the garden, is two-fold: First to show the students where food comes from; and, second, to explain how it impacts them on a physical and emotional level.

Dunsavage continues, “We all wanted to make the neighborhood and the school more accessible, and gardening was a tool. For the students it would be a future path — mentoring with adults who had expertise and caring – including neighborhood folks.”

Food grown on the school plots will be donated to local food pantries, as the students and master gardeners will work into October and may extend further into the fall with hoop gardening. Dunsavage notes that students’ families are also “welcome and encouraged” to help out.

“While master gardeners and two experienced gardeners will be available to offer guidance and support to the Montrose students, there is a need for summer supervision,” notes Dunsavage. “The community garden is looking for four to six families to assist with caring for the garden over the summer when school is out. In return, those families would each get one four-by-twelve-foot plot.”

Interested families can contact the organizers here. The cost is $50 plus a refundable $25 deposit.