On Feb. 11, 132 sixth grade students, along with seventh and eighth graders and adult volunteers, including Soldiers assigned here, planted 30 fruit trees under the guidance of three representatives of The Fruit Tree Planting Foundation (FTPF), a Pittsburgh-based, non-profit group which provided grant money for the undertaking. The FTPF also provided the trees, which include two varieties of pears, pomegranates, plums, apricots and peaches, selected for their ability to survive and produce in Sierra Vista's arid, desert climate.
FTPF is an award-winning international non-profit charity dedicated to planting fruitful trees and plants to alleviate word hunger, combat climate change, strengthen communities and improve the surrounding air, soil and water, according to the group's website, http://www.ftpf.org/. The organization plants trees at schools, hospitals, churches and at other non-profit locations to benefit local communities.
The process, brainchild of CSMS language arts teacher Andrea Weigle, began in 2012 when CSMS was preparing to relocate in its new building, Arizona's first net-zero school.
"I have written for grants in the past and enjoy doing it," Weigle said. "I was searching the Internet for a project that would enhance the new school and came across opportunities offered by the FTPF. Gardening is one of my hobbies so I wrote the grant proposal. When I didn't hear anything, I just figured I didn't get the grant.
"In September [2015] I received a letter asking if I was still interested, and I contacted them," she added.
Sixth grade was selected as the primary grade to be involved because the students have two more years at CSMS before high school. However, older students from the school's STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) class, Step it Up Health Club and honors class also participated.
The micro-orchard is located behind the school's sixth-grade pod. Honors students measured and marked the areas, and designated where the trees would be planted. "Some are self-pollinating while others need to be cross-pollinated," Weigle explained. "That's how the kids determined which trees went where."
The advanced STEM class designed and built the irrigation system which will use harvested rainwater to irrigate the plants. "This is most important, especially during the first year, when the plants are getting established," said Karl Griffor, STEM teacher. He explained that the water system is inexpensive and simple. It was built out of plastic PVC pipe. A microscopic, digital timer powered by two rechargeable batteries will control water delivery, and the batteries will be recharged using one of the school's solar panels. "It won't use any energy and won't cost anything, at least until the batteries need to be replaced," Griffor stated.
Money to pay for the irrigation system came from a $1,000 grant from the Fort Huachuca Community Spouses Club, Weigle explained. "The project it was supposed to be used for fell through, but I held on to the money, and we used it for this one," she said.
The micro-orchard will be studded with upright pieces of wood, drilled with small holes to attract Arizona honeybees to help pollinate the trees. In the future, Griffor hopes to get approval to add a greenhouse near the orchard to grow vegetables to supplement fruit production.
On Feb. 11, "Orchard Installation and Planting Day," three members of the FTPF drove the trees to the school. The 4- to 6-foot trees were delivered bare root, standing in buckets of water. "It's cheaper to transport them this way," said FTPF arborist Erik Wilson. Since they are dormant, the trees can be safely shipped this way.
"Depending on the weather, some should start to leaf out in about two weeks, though one peach tree has buds on it now," Wilson said. "Some of the other species, such as the pears, should take a bit longer."
Since the local soil is hard and rocky, prior to planting, Fort Huachuca and CSMS maintenance staff pre-dug the holes and placed a pile of rich, loamy soil near each one to help provide an ideal growing location.
Before planting began, students, adult volunteers and Soldiers, including a contingent from Charlie Company, 309th Military Intelligence Battalion, removed larger rocks from the planting area and stacked them in piles for later removal. Once everything was ready, Wilson gave a brief lesson before trees were placed and planted. He taught them how trees and other plants provide oxygen, what fruit is and why it's important to nutrition, and how to correctly plant trees.
"Most people who plant trees do it wrong," Wilson stated. "The trunks should be entirely exposed and not buried," he said, before explaining how to plant them correctly.
Then, groups of students paired up with adult volunteers, selected a hole and prepped it. Then, one member of each group was given a tree by either FTPF member Lizzy Rainey or Justin Spaulding while Wilson oversaw the actual planting. The whole project took several hours.
Students had fun and were excited about the program.
"This is a great project. It will help the school and the entire community," said seventh-grade student Vivian Wagner, 13, a member of the advanced STEM class.
"I had a chance to do everything," said Garran Marshall, 12, a seventh-grade advanced STEM class student. "Our whole class designed the irrigation system. I got to pick up rocks and plant a tree."
"I actually got to plant a tree. I'm very excited. I never planted a tree before," said sixth-grade student Robert Eidemiller, 12.
Based on adult comments, the excitement was contagious.
"I love working with the children," FTPF arborist Wilson stated. "It's fun. When the kids plant a tree and watch it grow, they want to taste the fruit. If you want kids to eat [fruit and vegetables], have them grow it."
"I'm excited to be here," Rainey stated. "It's the first time I've been on a military installation."
Soldiers worked alongside the students in the planting process. Weigle approached the 309th Military Intelligence Battalion to solicit volunteers and Capt. Morgan P. Cina, company commander, Charlie Company, 309th MI Bn., recruited volunteers from his unit.
"I asked if anyone wanted to volunteer," Cina said. "There are about 10 of us here right now. It's a great opportunity to get out of the office for a few hours, spend time in the sun and help with a worthy project."
Citing the involvement of the numerous classes and clubs in the fruit orchard project, CSMS Principal Christa Jones called the project "amazing."
"It's a wonderful opportunity for the students -- and the entire school. We're all super excited about the opportunity. Mrs. Weigle, who spearheaded the project, is one of those teachers who brings learning to life. It's something not all kids get to experience."
Over the summer, teachers and school maintenance personnel will ensure the trees are kept watered, especially during the critical first year. During summer 2017 Weigle hopes student and adult volunteers will handle this task.
In the future, when the trees produce fruit, CSMS educators hope to teach students about healthful eating habits and how to incorporate fruit into their diet. CSMS has a classroom with a full kitchen where students can learn how to cook with the fruit and they can taste-test several different recipes throughout the year. The school also plans on holding regular "give-away" events when the produce is ripe, where the Fort Huachuca community can come and pick up a free bag of fruit.
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