By Carmen Bitar, community associate at Conselyea Preparatory M.S. 577; Ms. Gabriela Smith-Coventry, social studies teacher at Conselyea Preparatory M.S. 577; and Olivia Medina, eighth grade student at Conselyea Preparatory M.S. 577; Maria Masullo, principal M.S. 57
M.S. 577 discovered avenues of sustainable irrigation through understanding local gardens in the neighborhood with North Brooklyn Parks Alliance. A group of students are part of M.S. 577’s gardening club lead by Ms. Gabriela Smith-Coventry, a teacher at the school. The club learned that certain invasive species are not ideal to sustain a healthy garden. The students rolled up their sleeves, put on some gloves, and used tools to remove invasive plants at North Brooklyn Parks Alliance, which is located in Bushwick Inlet Park on North 11th Street and Kent Avenue. The gardens there are filled with a variety of vibrant colors, soft lavender, delicate flowers, three leaf clovers, and an array of lively colors.
Olivia Medina, an eighth grade student in the club, shares her journey, “It was a warm sunny morning when the gardening club and I began our trip to Bushwick Inlet Park. It was nice to learn about some species of invasive plants and this trip overall made me more interested in plants. The different kinds of nonnative species were laid out for us to take a look at in case we forgot which plants to pull out. Each small group worked on one species and when done, would be able to move to the next. Lisa from North Brooklyn Parks Alliance was a real big help in helping us identify the plants, improving our education on invasive plants and the park’s plant community. It was a cool experience to learn about plants that settle in our NYC community parks. Plants that we may not glance at have a lot more background then just a green grassy stem and doing this kind of community work made me realize that our surroundings are full of ideas we just might not notice.”
The students spent a wonderful morning: giving back, learning the importance of community, enjoying quality time nurturing, and tending to a thriving soil.
“It was a great opportunity for students to experience that learning takes place outside of the classroom to contribute to the community,” stated Ms. Smith-Coventry.
The Greenline 