MARY’S FANCY–Ideal Playschool pupils are learning to mark Earth Day every day, instead of just today, April 22, by taking care of the school’s rooftop kitchen garden and greenhouse. The garden was created from up-cycled and recycled materials making it one of the greenest green spaces in the country.
The garden is the vision of Ideal’s owner Agnes Kapoor, supported by Donald and Jane Jones, co-founders of Magical Earth Retreats and Rotarians in the US who have been visiting the “Friendly Island” for more than 12 years. Also lending a hand in the garden were two young women – Valecia and Latoya – who worked with the school via Youth Affairs Job Training programme last year.
In the garden, Kapoor is using all tools at her disposal to create a nurturing environment for her preschoolers. She started collecting plastic bottles a year ago with the help of her pupils’ parents. Shipping pallets also were collected and donations came in from Kooyman hardware.
The vision of this unique garden became a reality with the help of American University of Caribbean (AUC) Medical School students, Ideal Preschool Parent-Teacher Committee and St. Maarten garden artists.
The entire garden is sustainable. Inspired by the project, one of Kapoor’s friends donated barrels to collect rainwater to water the garden. The up-cycled bottles are used as the greenhouse walls. The garden now boasts a crop of tomatoes, okra, eggplant, herbs and more. 
Her school’s kitchen no longer purchases herbs; Kapoor uses only what is in the potager. Eventually, her dream is to sell some of the produce from the garden. This is just the first phase of her dream garden project. The next phase will include a nature walk and swing overlooking Great Bay. Kapoor is still gathering pallets to use for the next project. Donations are welcomed.
Kapoor and Ideal staff are elated to be an outstanding example of how one person or a small group can make a huge difference in the world and for the environment.
For more information about this green garden, contact Kapoor at 527-3676 or e-mail
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Source: Daily Herald
Ideal Preschool unveils sustainable roof garden
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