Pleasant Valley’s Love Your Mother Club has taken on a tasking feat, clearing out and planting in the open space behind the tennis courts.
The Love Your Mother Club has always had one mission and that is making, not only the school, but the world a greener and more sustainable place.
The student-led environmental club’s newest project started in the fall. In early October, members spent hours pulling weeds, removing trash, and mapping out new plans for once the debris was removed.
One of the club’s presidents, senior Kate Fitzpatrick, commented, “We wanted to make a visible change. There is so much potential in that space, and no one has taken the time to see that potential,” shared Fitzpatrick.
What used to be an overgrown patch of unwanted mess has slowly been transforming into an area the club hopes will be a thriving garden come springtime.
The vision goes beyond planting flowers. “We want it to be a functional space that people enjoy. The plan is that some herbs and vegetables will be planted that the food prep class could possibly use,” said co-president and senior Isabella Yarbrough.
The current list of potential items that students will find in the upcoming garden include, wildflowers, tomatoes, cabbage, micro greens, basil, thyme, cucumbers, zucchini, zinnias, snake plants, and petunias.
For now, the focus is solely on cleanup of the space. There is a surprising amount of trash and overgrown vegetation that has occurred in that area, and the members are passionate about restoring it to its full potential. “It feels good to be a part of something that actually helps the school,” said Yarbrough. “We are contributing to not only the school but the environment in a very positive way.”
This project seems to be more hands on, and something the entire student body will be able to see and benefit from. It is a collaborative experience that allows for students to take pride in the work that they accomplish.
