Gardening with the Rockport Public School District
The new Horticulture Committee initiated an ambitious project last fall to help the School to expand gardening educational opportunities for students. We were extremely fortunate to partner with enthusiastic school staff who recognized the immense educational value of this partnership. Together we came up with two projects, one to relocate the old vegetable garden with new raised beds donated by the Club, and secondly to create a new pollinator garden in place of the old vegetable beds with native plants also donated by RGC.
After many joint planning sessions, the pollinator garden area was cleared and planted in early May. We moved onto assemble the vegetable beds to the right of the Elementary School which were filled and planted by students in June.
I am very grateful to the School, especially Darlene Trumbour, the Elementary School health teacher and RGC member, Kirk Keating, Director of Buildings and Grounds, and Jodi Goodhue, Director of Teaching and Learning, who managed the project for the school and secured funding for soil, mulch, tree work and fencing. Parents also played a major role in helping to clear the pollinator garden area and construct the vegetable beds, both times in the rain. They also volunteered to keep the new gardens weeded and watered over the summer vacation.
The Horticulture Committee worked tirelessly and made generous donations to these projects: Darrah Cole professionally designed and planted the lovely pollinator garden, Beth Delforge and Christine Tosun helped through every stage of the project, and Sue Catalogna who joined the team to help with weeding and watering over the summer.
For a more in-depth article on the projects see the Spring 2026 article on page 4 of “In The Loop”, the Rockport Public Schools newsletter delivered to every household in Rockport.
Mary Moorby, Horticulture Committee Chair
MISSION
The mission of the Rockport Garden Club’s Horticulture Committee is to provide information, education, and recommendations that promote healthy, beautiful, and environmentally friendly gardens. We support and collaborate with club members, the Rockport schools, and the community in cultivating gardens for enjoyment, consumption, and the creation of natural habitats that enhance native ecosystems.
ACTIVITIES FOR 2025 / 2026
1. Survey club members to determine their interest in gardening topics for newsletter articles; collaborate with Environmental Committee to author additional newsletters.
2. Collaborate with the Communications Committee to share horticulture information with members.
3. Collaborate with the Invasives Committee in supporting their work to educate and advise homeowners and others on responsible control and removal of invasive plants.
4. Collaborate with Rockport Schools on projects to be proposed by the staff.