Wolfsville Students Dig Into Fall Cleanup As Garden Club Prepares for Winter

Alisha Yocum

On a crisp fall afternoon, Wolfsville Elementary School (WES) students were excited to stay after school as part of the Garden Club, led by teacher Janet Dill. Their mission: Clean up the fall leaves and prepare the garden for winter.

For more than 30 years, the WES community garden has thrived with the help of dedicated volunteers like local resident Cheryl Monroe. As she has done countless times before, Monroe guided students through their tasks, offering quick instructions before they grabbed their rakes and got to work. Of course, who can resist a few jumps into the leaf piles before loading them into the truck? Three Middletown High School students also volunteered their time, lending extra hands to the effort.

The Garden Club is open to all students, but groups are rotated throughout the year to ensure all students have the opportunity to participate. WES became a Maryland Green School back in 2011, a nationally acclaimed initiative dedicated to fostering sustainability within schools. Dill said maintaining the garden is just part of the school’s sustainability plan. 

In November, Garden Club members built scarecrows to decorate the garden for the season, and they’re already planning spring projects, including experimenting with hydroponic growing.

Monroe says the reward is watching students connect with nature. “I want them to have fun and learn the process of gardening,” she said. “People seem to come together around things that are related to the garden and the earth.”

Garden Club members build scarecrows to decorate the garden.

Middletown High School volunteer, Jamie Geisbert, and fifth graders Bella Holda and Brynlee Fogle. 

Cheryl Monroe gives instructions to WES Garden Club Members.

Interested In Volunteering?

WES needs volunteers to help with maintaining the garden in the evenings throughout the spring.

Contact Janet Dill at janet.dill@fcps.org or call the school at 227-203-1120 for more information.