Deshler students 'Tinker'-ing with landscape

TUSCUMBIA - Deshler High School senior Krista Pace has discovered something about herself in recent weeks.

She hates bugs.

But she's enduring the bugs, caterpillars and other earth-dwelling creatures in the name of beautifying her school.

As one of about 70 of Mike Tinker's environmental science students, Pace has learned to withstand the less pleasant features of the school's beautification project.

Each week, for 50 minutes at a time, Tinker's classes head outside to work in the school courtyard area with community volunteers on the project that so far has included lawn and shrub manicuring, cleaning flower beds and replanting red and white mums to match the school's colors.

The project also includes sprucing up the school's fountain area.

The work has focused on the courtyard, which serves as the school's focal point.

Tinker said the project has brought out the best in his students.

"We wanted to do a project that would mean something to the kids, and I've certainly seen them take ownership of this project and the pride has come out in them," Tinker said.

Tinker wanted the students to learn the importance of working with, and for, the community while following his class curriculum, albeit in an unusual format.

"Yes, the courtyard needed upgrades, but these kids needed to experience what I talk about in class," he said.

"We've taken soil and water samples to test from the fountain and the area around it, and the students have seen how important water and soil quality is and how it's essential to all life. This sure beats just talking about this stuff."

The plan is to continue the project on some scale throughout the semester. Perhaps a butterfly garden or a turtle habitat is in the school's future, Tinker said.

For now, the students are content to work and then admire their handiwork.

"Last week when we started this project, you couldn't even see the mulch or tell where the shrub ended and the weeds began," said senior Anna Keenum.

"It was embarrassing to us for people to see it.

"It's like a completely different place now - just in time for our first football game Friday night."

Senior Sarah Nix said the project is about school pride.

"We hope to win the Tuscumbia beautification award, but the main thing is making the school look good," she said.

"It gives us something to brag about."

Senior Bradley Jackson said the project is good for beautification purposes but "we do care about the environment, too."

Various community members are lending their gardening skills. Tuscumbia resident Betty Belue, a retired educator and former school board member, said the project is perfect for her because it involves two of her greatest passions: gardening and Deshler.

"I jumped at the chance to work with these kids because it helps the school's appearance, but there's also a lot of learning going on, for me and them."

Lisa Singleton-Rickman can be reached at 740-5735 or lisa.singleton-rickman@TimesDaily.com.