Six elementary schools at Randolph County Schools in Elkins, W.Va., have added apple orchards and blueberry bushes to their campuses, My Buckhannon reports.
The district was looking to add new landscaping around one of its elementary school playgrounds when it was approached by a faculty member of the West Virginia University Extension Service who suggested that the district plant fruit-bearing trees to be used in the cafeteria and as an educational opportunity. The district agreed, and five additional elementary schools said they would like to include edible landscaping on their campuses as well.
The West Virginia University Extension faculty worked with students to help plant the trees and bushes before the end of this school year. The plants were purchased through crowdfunding.
Once the plants mature and begin producing fruit, the district hopes to use the produce in the cafeteria as well as in the classroom.
Read the full story via mybuckhannon.com.