Grow OV teams with Students to Build Raised Gardens

Students from three Marshall County schools gathered on Friday for an innovative project utilizing the expertise of career and technical education (CTE) students.

Central Elementary, Moundsville Middle and John Marshall High School students worked with Grow Ohio Valley to build raised beds as part of the project to revitalize Central Elementary’s garden.

Marshall County Schools CTE Director Bob Wilson orchestrated the collaboration of schools for the project by working with Matt McCardle and his high school carpentry program, Danielle King and her middle school agriculture program and Heather Stillion and her fifth-grade students who work with the elementary school’s garden. Hannah Hedrick, the Grow Ohio Valley Education Program Manager, oversaw the entire project from start to finish.

Together, these groups built six self-watering raised beds for Central Elementary School. Students examined blueprints, built frames, installed liners and finally planted starter plants in the beds.

Central Elementary Principal Katie Dantrassy commented on the project by saying, “Our school community has truly banded together to complete a project that is meaningful for all involved. The mentorship and collaboration among students is something special. Our fifth graders had a chance to work with students from their future middle school and high school as well as Grow Ohio Valley, a valuable community partner.”

The Central Elementary staff and students are excited to open the garden for summer with these new installments.

“I am beyond thrilled to have our garden back up and running for the summer of 23,” Stillion explained. “This garden provides so many learning opportunities for our students and staff. It is a source of pride for our students to be able to grow and provide food for our cafeteria, themselves, and our neighbors at Central.”