Eyestone has worked with local schools to promote safe gardening practices
MANHATTAN, Kan. – School kids at Marlatt Elementary have K-State Research and Extension horticulture agent Gregg Eyestone to thank for at least a couple tasty meals during the school year.
“Gregg has been a huge supporter of the school gardens at Marlatt Elementary and other schools in USD 383, as well as the Riley County 4-H extension community gardens,” said Courtney Smith, an art teacher at Marlatt.
Smith notes that Eyestone makes sure there is enough compost or soil to fill the school’s four garden beds, plants sweet potatoes in the summer, then guides students through harvesting lessons in the fall.
“The students then make sweet potato fries and pies for an end-of-season luncheon, using the plants they’ve grown with Gregg’s guidance,” Smith said.
In the spring, Eyestone works with fourth graders to grow salad gardens, providing weekly lessons on what’s needed for the crops to grow and thrive. Together, they harvest the vegetables and enjoy them together.
Eyestone’s work with the local school district was recently recognized by the Kansas Association for Conservation and Environmental Education with the first-ever Dave Colburn Green Apple Award.
According to information from KACEE, the award is given to a person who has a positive impact on the environmental sustainability of area schools and communities. The family of Bill and Erma Riley provided funding to support the award, which recognizes the contributions to environmental education of former Manhattan-Ogden school board member and president Dave Colburn.
Eyestone is the horticulture agent in K-State Research and Extension’s Riley County office.
“Gregg’s knowledge, drive and generosity in sharing his passion for environmentalism and green spaces within our community and schools are invaluable to us,” Marlatt’s Smith said. “He’s been a fantastic partner for the USD 383 Green Champions program, as well as a key resource for educators and students.”
FOR PRINT PUBLICATIONS: Links used in this story
Kansas Association for Conservation and Environmental Education, www.kacee.org
K-State Research and Extension Riley County, www.riley.k-state.edu
K State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the well being of Kansans. Supported by county, state, federal and private funds, the program has county extension offices, experiment fields, area extension offices and regional research centers statewide. Its headquarters is on the K State campus in Manhattan. For more information, visit www.ksre.ksu.edu. K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
Story by:
Pat Melgares
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