Cheer Story: The Raised Planter Project at Maryfield School

In the village of Maryfield, community is everything. That spirit of togetherness is perfectly embodied in the Raised Planter Project at Maryfield School—a grassroots initiative that has turned gardening into a full-circle of community involvement.

The project began in 2022 when Maryfield School received the Scott’s Canada Gro for Good School Edition Grant. This $1,000 Canada-wide grant allowed the school to purchase materials for three 6-foot raised planters, soil, and seeds. As Sarah Van Eaton, Maryfield’s Recreation Director, puts it, “For that, we are so grateful because it got this idea up and running and truly made it possible!”

But this project is far more than just a school garden; it’s a year-long community effort. The Grade 7-12 Practical Applied Arts Classes originally built the planters, and each spring, students, community volunteers, and Sarah herself plant them with a variety of vegetables.

Maryfield Recreation helps fund some of the seeds, and generous donations from community members fill in the rest. The students maintain the beds until the school year ends, at this point, a dedicated group of volunteers take over for the summer months. “We are lucky to have people in the community who see that the beds need water and they pop by to do it,” Sarah explains. “If some of the vegetables are ready through the summer, we encourage anyone to stop and grab a tomato!”

By fall, the project has come full circle. The students and teachers harvest the vegetables, and with the help of the School Community Council (SCC), they turn them into a delicious soup. Everyone in the school shares a soup and bun lunch that day at no cost!

The remaining soup is sold at the Maryfield Rink during winter events, and the proceeds go back into the community through various volunteer groups. As Sarah highlights, this not only gives back to the volunteers who keep the community running, but also provides a nutritious, home-grown meal for everyone to enjoy.

The success of the Raised Planter Project is a testament to what can be accomplished when a community comes together. “I am very grateful to the students and their efforts each year,” Sarah says, acknowledging the hard work of everyone involved, including a retired teacher, Janet Lemon, and other volunteers who help maintain the beds. “This project has been a huge success and with a small amount of funding each year for seeds or seedlings, it continues!”

For other communities considering a similar initiative, Sarah offers some encouragement: “I would encourage other communities to give this a try as it has been very successful in the Village of Maryfield!”

Photo Credit: Sarah Van Eaton, Maryfield’s Recreation Director