All Saint’s Episcopal School Hosts ‘God’s Bounty’ Project
ASEC member, George Giles, helps young Thomas fill a raised bed.
On a hot Monday morning, members of All Saints’ Episcopal Church joined teachers and parents of All Saints’ Episcopal School in God’s Bounty Garden and Outdoor Classroom. The project: building raised planting beds for classroom use during the upcoming 14-15 School Year. Scheduled to work over the course of three days, organizers and volunteers alike surprised themselves by completing all ten 4’ x 12’ beds in the first day. “The focus and hard work of the volunteers really blew us away” said Patsy Gosnell, 2nd Grade Teacher and God’s Bounty organizer. The crew also planted pumpkins in hopes of a harvest this autumn.
Earlier this summer, 1st Grade Teacher, Susie Justice led another team of school and church volunteers in the harvesting and canning of over 70 quarts of half-runner green beans. The beans were then sold and all profit turned back into God’s Bounty. Out of the limelight, but indispensible to the agriculture program is 6th grade teacher, Jim Hodge. The experience that he and his wife Kathy have brought to bear on God’s Bounty has proven invaluable. All Saints’ Episcopal School received grant money from the Tennessee Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom for use toward this raised bed project. Additional support was given by Alan’s Nursery in Morristown, who offered a discount on enriched soil to fill the raised beds.
