The Voorheesville Central School District Board of Education has voted in favor of plans to update the Blackbird Paradise Garden at Voorheesville Elementary School, marking the beginning of a redesign that honors the garden’s legacy while creating new opportunities for student learning, community engagement and environmental stewardship.
Since its creation in 2009, the garden has supported classroom learning. Now, as the garden’s infrastructure, including its fencing, raised beds and irrigation systems, requires significant repair, the Blackbird Paradise Garden Committee has proposed a redesign of the space that will maintain its educational mission while incorporating updated design themes and features.
New growth
Based on plans the garden committee provided to the board, the redesigned garden will transition from a food-production theme to a nature-focused theme.
“The vision is to create a calming, natural space with perennial flowers that bloom from spring until late fall; we want to add in nesting boxes and feeders to attract birds,” said committee member Leiana Hawkins. “Students will have opportunities to observe seasonal changes firsthand in small groups or from a new gathering space that will be large enough for an entire class.”
Opportunities for learning extend beyond the school day. The garden committee is exploring the creation of a middle/high school garden club and has received interest from local Cadette Girl Scouts who hope to contribute to portions of the project as part of their Silver Award work.
Plans also include removing the fence to create a more inviting setting, establishing accessible, mowable pathways and expanding the garden’s footprint to include existing apple trees. The redesign will simplify long-term maintenance by removing aging raised beds, updating irrigation systems and incorporating plantings that are easier to care for.
Community Involvement
The Voorheesville PTA will continue to serve as the managing organization for the garden. Funding will come through a combination of PTA support and grants. The committee plans to tie Blackbird Paradise Garden fundraising efforts to the district’s upcoming centennial celebration. The PTA will also organize a “legacy plant” initiative to encourage families to donate divided perennials from their own gardens.
Elemental Landscapes will provide free demolition and removal of old materials followed by donated and discounted labor for the installation of the new garden.
Cornell Cooperative Extension has offered to assist with the garden’s design, while the Helderview Garden Club has pledged support for maintenance and weeding efforts.
Additional details about the project will be shared as the work progresses.