In summer 2023, the "school garden" project was launched at Eilermark School. The new school garden is set to become a special place at Eilermark School, offering pupils the opportunity to explore the environment in a practical and exciting way.
In spring 2023, the school received a generous donation from Volksbank Gronau-Ahaus eG: A raised bed including hooks, shovels, watering cans and money to buy plants. Together with Ms. Nagel and Ms. Tillmann, some pupils from the former third year filled the raised bed with bulky branches, turf, decomposed compost and finally peat-free potting soil. This eclectic mix created the perfect conditions for vegetable plants and bee and insect-friendly flowers to grow.
At the start of the 2023/2024 school year, the OGS pupils were able to harvest tomatoes, a pumpkin, cucumbers and strawberries from their own plants. An apple tree planted in recent years also bore a lot of fruit.
Another project was the construction of a perennial bed with OGS children. The lawn was dug up and perennials were planted in peat-free potting soil. Stones were placed to border the bed.
Flower bulbs were planted in the fall so that the first bee- and insect-friendly flowers will bloom next spring.
Future plans include planting more beds with bee and insect-friendly plants and building a colorful fence around the school garden to make it more inviting and protected.