by Moira Cullings
moira.cullings@theleaven.org
BUCYRUS — Last spring, sixth graders at Queen of the Holy Rosary School here sowed the seeds for a stewardship project to benefit their school.
With a little TLC, their idea bloomed into a flourishing garden that’s now making a difference in the community.
“It was really cool to see our ideas go from paper to being right in front of us and helping other people,” said Leah Carlson, who’s now in seventh grade.
It started when the class of 13 was tasked with coming up with a stewardship project.
“They wanted to help water plants around the school and pull weeds,” said Bryan Wallraff. “They took it and ran with it.”
Wallraff, who taught sixth grade last year and is now teaching third, said his students’ dreams outgrew their initial plans.
On Sept. 5, the now-seventh graders worked with the third graders to harvest and donate 60 pounds of produce from their garden to the Caring Ministry of First Baptist Church in Stilwell.
The vegetables were distributed to families in need around the community.
Principal Nick Antista was thrilled about the garden.
“I thought it was an incredibly creative and meaningful addition to our school,” he said.
“Not only does it offer a way for students to learn in a hands-on, engaging manner,” he continued, “but it also aligns beautifully with our values of stewardship, care for creation and fostering a sense of responsibility.”
Donna Rains, Caring Ministry director, called the donation “a wonderful gift.”
The Caring Ministry serves all sorts of people, she said.
“Single mothers, grandparents raising children, families with an ill loved one, families suffering from job loss, families that are homeless, families that are just in need — what we now call the working poor,” said Rains.
“It felt pretty good,” said seventh grader Will Bosley about the donation. “Your community’s given a lot to you, so it feels like you need to give something back.”
Classmates Lauren Dudzik and Leah Carlson were also excited to make a difference in their community.
“Some people are struggling,” said Carlson, “and they just need a little bit of help to get back on their feet.”
The students enjoyed serving others as much as they relished their time in nature.
“We went outside with our woodworking teacher, and we built garden beds,” said Bosley. “Then we’d fill them with dirt.
“We’d go out every other day and water and weed.”
Many Holy Rosary families work in agriculture, said Wallraff, but for other students, the experience was completely new.
“Everybody was able to interact with it in different ways,” he said.
The project incorporated practical lessons in math and science.
“We brought in a conservation agent from Miami County,” said Wallraff, “and they taught them how to grow potatoes.
“We did that in class as part of our soil science.”
Carlson drew blueprints for raised beds, which the students helped make using power drills.
For seventh grader Breckin Ford, seeing the end result has been satisfying.
“It was fun picking up the [vegetables] because we saw our accomplishment actually grow,” he said.
Wallraff believes projects like the garden are a valuable teaching tool for the young learners.
“It’s another step they’re taking where they’re understanding the information and then they’re putting it into action,” he said.
“I think it’s cool to see from a small science class they’re able to feed families in the area,” he added.
As for the future of the garden, the school has big plans.
“We want to make a bigger garden so we can provide more food [to those in need],” said Wallraff.
The school received a grant from the Kansas Native Plant Society for a 10-by-10-foot prairie. It’s also received composting grants from Food Too Good to Waste.
“We’re also going to add some animals so that hopefully in the next few years we have a complete farm,” said Wallraff.
This is Wallraff’s third year teaching after a career as a firefighter and EMT.
The hands-on training he experienced made him want to work with students and “help them change how they interact with education.”
Antista is grateful for the passion he brings to the classroom.
“Having teachers like Bryan who think outside the box is a tremendous gift,” he said. “It shows a dedication to not just teaching curriculum but also inspiring a love for learning.
“It’s educators like Bryan who help create memorable experiences that leave a lasting impact on students.”
