GREEN CITY YOUTH: Sulzberger School

At first glance, Thursday’s flower event outside Sulzberger Middle School seemed much like many other school-sponsored Mother’s Day flower sales. There were the lively students and the colorful trays of marigold, salvia, and pansies.
           
But this event was different. These flowers weren’t for sale; the students were giving them away! And the “mother” being honored was Mother Earth herself.

Sulzberger students with their educational display at the outdoor garden during the 2007 Mother’s Day plant giveaway   

As part of PHS’s Green City Youth program, these Sulzberger 7th graders have spent all year long studying the importance of community greening. They know now that “greening” the community means a safer, healthier, cleaner environment, with better air and cleaner water, and more habitat for butterflies and birds. The goal of this event was to gave away annuals, to encourage neighbors and students to further “green” their West Philadelphia neighborhood.
           
The giveaway event took place at the Sulzberger outdoor garden, across the street from this West Philadelphia school. The garden--built several years ago by the Philadelphia Water Department as a stormwater maintenance demonstration site--features a giant mural depicting the natural history of this Mill Creek Neighborhood. Several of the students offered interpretive tours of the garden space—teaching students and neighbors the importance of green space to clean water.
           
Though driven by teacher Crystal Martin and her Green City Youth 7th grade class, many local organizations helped in the event as well. The Men of Mill Creek spent several hours cleaning and sprucing up the garden prior to Thursday’s event. Nearby Mill Creek Farm helped publicize the event, and its director Johanna Rosen, came by to support the student endeavor. So did Department of Recreations’ Wanda Darden, from the neighboring Mill Creek Playground.
           
By day’s end, Sulzberger students had successfully demonstrated the importance of community greening to both fellow students and community members. The sun broke through the clouds brightening and warming the afternoon. Mother Earth, it seemed, was quite pleased.