Contact: Andy Jacobs
Phone: 757-229-1931
E-mail: jacobsa@wjcc.k12.va.us
County: James City

The Mattey Garden at Matthew Whaley Elementary School began in the fall of 1997 through the special help and contributions from WJC Master Gardeners, The Williamsburg Garden Club, the Williamsburg Tercentenary Commission, the Williamsburg Kiwanis Club, as well as the Matthew Whaley P.T.A., the Clark Foundation, the Christopher Wren Association, Boy Scout Troop 103, the Peninsula Home Builders Association and individuals in the community. The garden was designed by landscape designer Gale Roberts. Each grade has responsibility for a specific area. Since its beginning the garden has served as a hands-on outdoor classroom for the school.

Activities in the garden are aligned with the science curriculum and the Virginia Standards of Learning.
Kindergarteners learn about seeds by growing salad vegetables in their special plot. In 2003 a Herbs of the Month Unit was added. The students learn about herbs from volunteers from the Colonial Triangle Chapter of the American Herb Society. They then taste, touch, smell and see the herbs, coordinating with their study of the senses. Finally they sample the herbs in a special snack prepared by the cafeteria manager. The Kindergarteners also work on the butterfly garden and have raised and released several butterflies.

First graders are involved in the Master Gardener program Seeds of Learning. They raise their own plants to put in their special sundial area of the garden. They also direct sow sweet peas in that area as well as plant annuals.

Second grade has perhaps the most extensive study in the garden with the Roots and Shoots program.

Third graders perform a soil test in the garden to determine the nutrients needed to provide maximum growth. We also have a test garden with the three types of soil: loam, clay, and sand. They also growing Sugar Snap peas and gourds. The gourds are harvested the following fall and are then decorated and made into bird houses in art class.

Fourth graders follow a 4-H unit on plants grown in Colonial Virginia, such as sweet potatoes and peanuts.

Fifth graders research annuals on the Internet and then plant them in the Alphabet Garden.

All students help by weeding and watering in their particular areas. Parents and community volunteers, especially the James City County-Williamsburg Master Gardeners, assist in all phases of the garden.

Mattey’s Garden was the recipent of the Commonwealth Award by the Garden Club of Virginia and of the City Beautification Award by the city of Williamsburg for 2002.

Number of Kids Involved: 505
Square Feet of Gardens: 6000

Grades Involved:

• K - 4
• 5 - 8

Gardening Contexts/Emphases:

• Outdoor, Vegetables
• Outdoor, Flowers
• Community Service
• Pond / Wetland
• Intergenerational
• Nutrition / Hunger
• Butterflies
• Special Needs
• Birds
• Multicultural
• Garden Art
• Garden Themes
• Vermiculture (worms)
• Composting

Level of Student Participation (hours/week/child): 1-2

Number of Participating Teachers: 22

Number of Participating Parents / Volunteers: 50

Number of Parent / Volunteer Participation (hours/week/person): 3-4

Funding Sources:

• $ Donations
• In-Kind Donations
• Grants
• Public

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