Grier Volunteers Maintain Community Rain Garden
Grier students are helping to keep local waters clean by building and maintaining a local rain garden. A group of Grier volunteers spent part of Saturday clearing the garden clear of litter, mulching, adding new plants, and watering them with nearby river water.
Grier students have been lending a hand to this endeavor for over nearly three years. In the fall of 2016, the Blair Conservation District reached out to Grier asking for volunteers to help create and maintain a rain garden in Tyrone. In the fall of 2016, Grier students established a low-lying garden between a parking lot and the Little Juniata River. Since then, the students have returned to tend the garden every fall and spring. Learning Skills teacher Mrs. Shelly Davis, who leads the team of Grier volunteers, cares for the garden during the summer.
Without a rain garden, runoff water following rain showers would rush across the parking lot and run directly into the river, bringing along with it all sorts of trash and automotive pollutants. The deep-rooted plants in the garden slow the flow of run-off water into the river and filter pollutants. Additionally, the native plans attract pollinators like bees and butterflies, which are essential to the ecosystem and frequently scarce where humans have removed native plants.
The Grier volunteers’ efforts make a real difference to the local river community of Tyrone and all the communities along the Little Juniata watershed, including Grier School! It is great to see the students’ concern for Earth.
Learn more about Community Service at Grier.
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RW | Photo credit: CF
Learn more about Community Service at Grier.
Follow Grier on Instagram and Facebook.
RW | Photo credit: CF
Grier School
2522 Grier School Rd. | P.O. Box 308; Birmingham, PA 16686-0308
Phone: 814-684-3000 | Fax: 814-684-2177
Phone: 814-684-3000 | Fax: 814-684-2177
