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Sunset Vista children's garden coming together

| 23 May 2018 | 12:03
    Ethan Amato of Blair Academy is one of the many volunteers helping to get Sunset Vista Community Garden together for the new season. Photos by Rose Sgarlato
    Ethan Amato of Blair Academy is one of the many volunteers helping to get Sunset Vista Community Garden together for the new season. Photos by Rose Sgarlato
    Handpainted by volunteers at Ginnie's House, these colorful fence panels are part of the new Children's Educational Garden at Sunset View Farm in Andover.
    Handpainted by volunteers at Ginnie's House, these colorful fence panels are part of the new Children's Educational Garden at Sunset View Farm in Andover.
    Tucker Richardson, Henry Meyers, Nick Incontrera and Jack Six of Blair Academy volunteer their services at Sunset View Farm's new Children's Educational Garden.
    Tucker Richardson, Henry Meyers, Nick Incontrera and Jack Six of Blair Academy volunteer their services at Sunset View Farm's new Children's Educational Garden.
    Putting it all together
    Putting it all together
    Volunteers, from left, Jessica Schabel, Sofia Sorensen, Kenza Fernandez and Tucker Richardson.
    Volunteers, from left, Jessica Schabel, Sofia Sorensen, Kenza Fernandez and Tucker Richardson.

By Rose Sgarlato
ANDOVER — With the help of a few friends, the new Educational Children’s Garden at Sunset View Farm on Pierce Road is almost ready to go.
Owner and Director Linda Grinthal has been planning this next phase of the always-evolving Sunset Vista Community Garden & Learning Center. The Children’s Garden officially opens to the public on July 2 and summer classes begin July 18. Registration is open.
Grinthal gives credit to a few friends of the farm who planted the seed, virtually, for the Children’s Garden:
“Last year a student from SCCC, Alyssa Preziosi from Franklin, planned her version of the garden on PowerPoint. Jenn Earley, from Newton, who is one of our gardeners and a teacher, finalized the plan and is overseeing the construction."
Fence slats were creatively painted last year by volunteers from Ginnie’s House and next on the agenda was putting the fence together. Thirteen high school students from Blair Academy spent their annual Blair Day of Service last Friday, May 18, at the farm where lots of weeding and fence building was on the to-do list.
The volunteer crew got lucky with a dry day which was needed to complete the project.
“It’s really nice to give back to the community,” said Tucker Richardson, a senior at Blair Academy.
His co-worker for the day and classmate Kenza Fernandez agreed:
“This is stress-relieving, especially after finishing our AP exams.”
Pope John XXIII honor students in coordination with Pass-it-Along will finish it June 9, added Grinthal.
A summer series of Wednesday classes for children of all ages will begin on Wednesday July 18 followed by classes on July 25, August 1, August 8 and August 15. The five 90-minute sessions costs $20. People can also register for individual sessions at $5 a class. To register contact Linda Grinthal at 973-579-7382 or linda@sunsetvista.org.
The sessions are being taught by Eileen Gantz, a volunteer for the learning center, who holds a Master's Degree in Education.
“The classes will be conducted mostly in the Children's Educational Garden, but we may also walk the Nature ID Trail," Grinthal said. "We will utilize our entire National Arbor Foundation Certified Outdoor Classroom. We are hoping this will be fun and educational for parents, grandparents, nannies and children.”
For more information <URL destination="http://www.sunsetvista.org. ">www.sunsetvista.org.