Collier Fruit Growers at East Naples Middle School
Gaby Espinosa, left, is preparing the planting bed for a cherry tree. Chelsea Derr and Nina Morris are deep into the task also. This is the organic garden project sponsored by the Collier Fruit Growers at the East Naples Middle School.
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Isabel Santiago, left, Derrick Branham and Jaquan Shack dig a hole, prepare the planting bed, plant the tree, mulch and water. They are learning science through a direct learning experience that involves physical activity outdoors and understanding their relationship with the Earth.
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East Naples Middle School science teacher Rachel Smith, left, Isabel Santiago and Derrick Branham are proud of the system to reclaim air conditioner condensate waste water that they installed by the end of February. The water from a portable classroom AC unit is collected in a plastic drum.
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Derrick Branham shows the sand filter though which the water from a portable classroom AC unit is funneled. The funnel is inserted in the mouth of a closed plastic barrel and the collected water is used to water the butterfly garden.
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Sixth-grader Isabel Santiago pours the water into a bucket to go water the garden. She uses the faucet above the ten gallon level in the drum filled with condensed water from the AC unit.
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Gaby Espinosa shows the butterfly garden. Butterflies have been attracted to it since the beginning of the project
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A trio of happy planters. Nina Morris, left, Chelsea Derr and Gaby Santiago care for a new acquisition, a passion fruit, a vigorous, perennial vine.
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Around 50 people attended the Collier Fruit Growers Council in March. The Council is a non-profit organization that propagates and distributes rare tropical and subtropical fruits. It also offers education and encouragement to extend their cultivation.
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Collier Fruit Growers treasurer, Mary Fehr, attends the March meeting of the organization at the auditorium of the Golden Gate Community Center, where she helped with the logistics. A Cuban pumpkin seedling was among the plants displayed at the event.
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The science students also planted a passion fruit vine at the East Naples Middle School. The plant is watered before the hole is filled with coffee grounds.
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