Peachtree Elementary and the PTC Garden Club
The Peachtree Elementary School garden is more than a collection of raised beds. It is a living classroom where children discover the joy of gardening, learn about nature, and develop an appreciation for the environment.
The garden began as a small project created by Marilyn Whitmer, a member of the Peachtree Corners Garden Club, with a special goal in mind: to support reading and help children connect the stories they love with the natural world around them. That vision inspired the garden's Harry Potter theme, bringing books to life through gardening and creating an imaginative space where students could explore both literature and nature. Through Marilyn's dedication and the support of community partners, the garden has continued to grow. Today, it includes 27 raised beds where students can grow vegetables, herbs, flowers, and other plants. The garden gives children the opportunity to experience nature firsthand while providing teachers with an outdoor classroom that connects reading and lessons in science, nutrition, math, and environmental education to real life experiences.
The garden began as a small project and has continued to grow through Marilyn's dedication and the support of community partners. Today, the garden includes 27 raised beds where students can grow vegetables, herbs, flowers, and other plants. The garden provides teachers with an outdoor classroom that connects lessons in science, nutrition, math, and environmental education to real life experiences.
The garden has received recognition and support from a variety of organizations throughout its growth. In 2021, Marilyn received a $400 Georgia Master Gardeners Association grant to create a raised herb garden for kindergarten students and add plants throughout the school's courtyards. In 2023, a partnership between Dematic and the Captain Planet Foundation provided another important opportunity for growth, with volunteers constructing 12 additional raised beds and providing tools, seeds, gardening supplies, and educational resources for teachers and students. Today, the garden includes 27 raised beds and continues to serve as a vibrant outdoor classroom for Peachtree Elementary students. The gardens received additional support through another Georgia Master Gardeners Association grant in 2024.
For the Peachtree Corners Garden Club, supporting the Peachtree Elementary garden is a natural expression of the club's mission of beautification, education, and conservation.
Club members have volunteered at the school garden, helping with planting, maintenance, and other projects. The club has also hosted gardening workshops at the school, giving students opportunities to learn new skills and experience gardening firsthand. The club has brought conservation into the garden as well. Members have hosted a pollinator count at the school, helping students observe and learn about the bees, butterflies, and other pollinators that play such an important role in our environment.
The Peachtree Elementary garden is a wonderful example of what can happen when one person's passion grows into a community effort. Marilyn's dedication has brought together students, teachers, volunteers, gardeners, and community organizations to create something that will continue to educate and inspire for years to come.
For the Peachtree Corners Garden Club, being part of that growth is one of the most meaningful ways we can put our mission into action.
