The record hot summer has not slowed the gardens or the OFE gardeners. Every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, a contingent of gardeners gets up early and tends to the tasks of the gardens and
The gardens at Oak Forest Elementary School are thriving this year due to the dedicated efforts of the volunteers. Students always look forward to “gardening day” and can’t wait to get outside to plant,
It’s the end of summer, which means that almost all of the fruit and vegetables in the OFE gardens have been harvested. It also means that the canned goods made from all that fresh
In 2003, two teachers at Oak Forest Elementary School felt strongly that their students needed more hands-on learning experiences in science, math, and nature studies, and reached out to two Texas Master Gardeners who were volunteering at Mercer Botanic Gardens – Jo Sanders and Gudrun Opperman. The first garden was cultivated in 2003 and a shed was constructed in 2005 to house the garden’s tools.
Over the years, the garden has grown to 27 separate plots and about 20 fruit bearing trees. Numerous members of the Lake Houston Garden Club have volunteered with the OFE Growers over the years; currently at least 20 members are involved at some level.
The gardening program is integrated into the fifth grade math and science curriculum. Students hear a 30 minute horticutural lesson presented by a volunteer, and then spend 30 minutes working in the garden in small groups supervised by volunteers. The majority of the 2600 pounds of produce grown each year go home with the students. The remainder is made into preserves, jellies and sauces by the volunteers to sell to members of the community. The proceeds provide the main funding for the OFE garden project.