Inspired by her family’s farm in Idaho, Coppell High School junior Rachel Kass has always has a connection to gardening. Tracing her roots, she settled on establishing a garden at her previous school, Town Center Elementary.

As a Helping Hands Community Garden volunteer since kindergarten, creating a garden was an ideal project for her to give back to the Coppell community.

“I really wanted to give back to the garden program,” Kass said. “I have had a connection to gardening and nature starting from elementary school.”

As part of her requirement for her Girls Scout Gold Award, Kass started a herb garden at Town Center Elementary (TCE).

The project chosen is intended to strengthen an aspect of the community and due to her early involvement with gardening, the local community garden was her first choice to improve.

Kass was directed by the maintainers of the local community garden to build upon the efforts of a past Girl Scout who previously establish four plant beds at TCE.

The ribbon cutting ceremony of Kass’s herb garden took place on May 13, involving TCE parents, invited members from the community and members of Kass’s current Girl Scout troop.

Food, garden and nature related activities and tips for maintaining the garden were discussed by Kass as part of creating a self sustaining garden project.

“I am hoping it gives [elementary students] more chances to be outside and learn about the environment,” Kass said.

After Kass’s establishment of the herb bed, the garden will primarily cared for by the students and the cafeteria staff.

The herbs harvested will be used in the salad bar in the school’s cafeteria and life skills will be garnered by students involved in the project.

Educational skills such as finding perimeter and area, selling the herbs, conducting labs and classifying the produce will be taught by educators involved in the project.

“It is great that a [CHS] student is getting elementary students involved in a self sustaining project that includes members of the community,” CHS sophomore Izzy Droz said. “Efforts to educate the upcoming generation about conserving the earth is imperative for our future.”