Thursday, April 2, 2015

Innovative garden goes "up"

Katherine Smith, A Charlotte Catholic High School Sophomore and Senior Scout from Girl Scout Troop 3112, constructed a vertical garden and raised bed for the students.




Brookstone relocated to First Baptist Church in December of 2014. First Baptist Church has generously provided the school an exceptional facility for their K-8 school, serving 132 students. Their new urban location had much less green space for the students to grow their own fruits and vegetables, which they were accustomed to before their move. Katherine heard about their lack of gardening space, and researched the concept of building a vertical garden. She assembled a team of 17 volunteers to help design and construct a 9 foot wide by 5 ½ foot tall vertical garden. The garden structure only has a depth of 2 ½ feet, which gives the students plenty of gardening space without taking up a lot of playground space. The team also installed a 4 foot by 12 foot raised bed so the students could still grow larger root vegetables, fruits, and flowers, like sweet potatoes, tomatoes, and sunflowers.


The volunteer team built the vertical garden and raised bed on February 28, 2015. Katherine Smith, along with volunteer nutritionist, Elizabeth Stamas, introduced the students to their new garden on March 11, 2015. They planted seeds and seedling vegetables including radishes, beets, kale, collards, potatoes, cabbage, and sugar snap peas. The students were given a nutritional lesson and they will get the opportunity to harvest and consume the produce that they planted in a few months. They will share their extra produce with Friendship Trays, Charlotte’s local Meals on Wheels program. The Brookstone School is part of the Friendship Garden Network, which shares their produce with community members in need.


Eighty-five percent of the students are eligible for free or reduced lunch program, so the majority of the students do not have access to fresh fruits and vegetables. However, through their previous and new school garden, they will continue to have the opportunity to grow and regularly consume their own fresh produce. Not only will the students be able to share their increased nutritional knowledge with their families, but they are learning to grow their own vegetables, which will benefit them and their families for generations to come.


Katherine hopes this Gold Award Project will inspire others to build their own gardens at home, church, schools, and community centers. Having access to fresh fruits and vegetables and gaining nutritional knowledge can positively affect peoples’ long-term health, and their daily performance in school, work, and other activities. She hopes the vertical garden concept will encourage others to grow and harvest their own fresh produce, even if they have limited gardening space.  



Thank you, Katherine!!


Summer Camp is around the corner!

Planning for our 6-week summer camp is underway!


Thank you to these churches/groups who have committed to a week of service:

June 14th Davidson United Methodist Church
June 21st First Baptist Church Charlotte
June 28th SouthLake Presbyterian Church
July 5th Matthews Orthodox Presbyterian
July 12th Uptown PCA
July 19th Reformed Theological Seminary

We're excited for all that's in store!


Alumni breakfast

On February 21st Brookstone Alumni met for a quick breakfast before the group attended The ABC's of College Planning workshop at Central Piedmont Community College. The workshop held sessions on choosing the right college, finding scholarships and financial aid, and preparing for a college career during high school. Our alumni are excited (and a little anxious) about the college process, and we are proud to encourage these students to dream big!


A date with Thereasea Elder

Earlier this year, Mrs. Thereasea C. Elder took the time to share some of her story and what inspired her to become a Brookstone supporter. Below are Michelle Tipton’s notes from that visit...

I arrived at the home of Mrs. Thereasea Elder, a dignified 87 year-old, on a cold foggy morning. She told me to come as early as I wanted because she's woken up at 5 am since World War II. As we walked into her front parlor, she mentioned that the room has been the same since 1968. I knew she was special right then. No pretense, only honesty.


When I asked her why she got involved with Brookstone, she shared memories of her first visit to the school. She saw a community of people who care so much about the children, and she witnessed teachers who invested beyond the curriculum into building relationships with the whole family. Brookstone made an impact on Thereasea years ago and has been a grateful recipient of her support ever since.


What a privilege to sit with a community leader who is leaving a legacy bigger than herself. From teen pregnancy to education, Thereasea’s efforts positively impact Charlotte in big ways, and she thanks God for it all. Before leaving, I asked how her faith has encouraged her in these roles. She closed her eyes, held one hand up toward Heaven and the other over her heart. With misty eyes, she shared her favorite verse—John 3:16: “I do believe. I do believe. For God so loved me...and you.”