As the wonderful Audrey Hepburn once said, “To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow.” Well, the Old Bonhomme Community believes.                       

The effort, dubbed ‘Old Bonhomme Elementary Garden Dirt’ began, in earnest, last Friday with the delivery of the first of eight raised beds by Seed St. Louis, the installation of a crawling arbor by Ladue Horton Watkins students, and the gathered friendship and garden gloved labor of early-in volunteers.                       

The planned effort, which is now attended to by a dozen or so teachers and a handful of parents, represents the relocation and expansion of the School’s pre-COVID era garden. The layout, still
under preparation, occupies an opportune 2,000 square feet at the southwest corner of the school, near the intersection of the main circle drive and Old Bonhomme Road.

                       

The project is an all-hands on-deck opportunity for anyone in our school and greater Old Bonhomme neighborhood community. We hope to bring together young, young-at-heart, OB parents, non OB parents, and really just anyone with a love for our community to be a part of this, our community garden.

                                                               

The first date to circle on your calendar is Saturday, April 1, when we will meet from 8 AM to 2 PM to officially break ground on our communal gardening season with the loading-in of dirt and first plantings. Everyone is welcome, and you may sign up at the QR code here. It is worth noting that the project has been amply supported by several wonderful local organizations, including Seed St. Louis, Planthaven Farms, Danforth Plant Science Center, Olivette Parks and Recreation, and Ladue Horton Watkins Highs School and the fabulous student-led organization, Student Action for a Greener Earth (SAGE).                       

Old Bonhomme Garden Dirt hopes to be about much more than just its harvest of produce, but intends to provide for all manner of opportunities, from lesson plan augmentation to family activities, to community outreach, to modeling sustainability for our children.

                       

Come out and join the effort. Come play in The Dirt! Register HERE!

- Craig Williams, OB parent