Submitted by Doreen Schindler
The mission of Reeves-Reed Arboretum is to engage, educate, and enrich the lives of our constituents to become better stewards of nature and the planet. One of the most important and compelling ways that this goal is achieved is through the extraordinary environmental education programs that stress nature, horticulture, and sustainability. The professional educators of RRA craft each program and lesson plan to coincide with the curriculum standards set annually by the board of education. And one of the most consistently successful programs of the Arboretum is the Square Foot Garden Initiative.
Square Foot Gardening is on a mission to change the world and make a difference locally. With this unique and simple system, you don’t need tools or fertilizer, and once your garden is built, no weeds. Originally developed to teach good nutrition and healthy eating within the limited opportunities offered in urban landscapes, the Arboretum, thanks to this generous support from The Junior League of Summit, Inc., is now able to build on this program and implement curriculum to local participating schools.
“We are delighted and humbled by the continued support and dedication The Junior League of Summit has shown to Reeves-Reed Arboretum,” comments RRA executive director, Frank Juliano. “Our partners have demonstrated, over and over again, that they recognize the important role Reeves-Reed Arboretum plays in educating our community about the environment and sustainability.”
Thanks to The Junior League of Summit, Inc, and to careful planning, as well as additional support from the Summit Area Public Foundation, coupled with the enthusiastic participation of the Franklin School (and their partners, the Summit Educational Foundation), the Square Foot Gardening program will continue through 2018 and possibly longer.
For more information about the events, programs and workshops at Reeves-Reed Arboretum, please visit our website at reeves-reedarboretum.org or call 908-273-8787 x 1010.
