Elliot Primary School seeks to prepare their students to be stewards of the environment, and to impress on them that this is an ongoing process, not a one-off effort, students were encouraged to plant and maintain square-foot gardens in the school's quadrangle.

Planting, weeding and monitoring pests over the months has made the children aware of the interdependence of plants and animals and insects, the importance of light and nutrients, and just how tasty home-grown fruits and vegetables can be.

Among the produce harvested have been pawpaws, a pineapple, strawberries, eggplant, cauliflower, string beans, green peppers, carrots, onions, beets and herbs.

This year, the horticultural enthusiasts entered over 70 potted plants, flowers and vegetables in the annual Agricultural Exhibition, many of the entries winning blue ribbons.

In order to raise funds for the plant harvest project, including the erection of a compost bin, the school organised a trash-a-thon, and each student was involved in cleaning up a portion of the community. They targeted Vesey Street, Hermitage Road and Middle Road, Devonshire, as they went, separating the recyclables from the litter to be sent to Tynes Bay.

Maintaining the environment has been extended to a schoolwide recycling programme under the direction of former Science Coordinator Ann Lightbourne and continued under current Science Coordinator Norma Jean Richardson.

Each classroom will be outfitted with a bucket for fruit peelings, which will be composted once the bin has been purchased and installed. Unwanted office paper is sorted and used as scrap paper by students and teachers, and used printer ink cartridges are being collected and recycled through the efforts of the PTA president Sakeena Talbot.

Extending their efforts into the wider community, Elliot has adopted Penhurst Park and assisted the staff of the Parks Department to care for the grounds.

The school has arranged for GreenRock representatives to work with the PTA, and a meeting is scheduled for May to ensure this is not just an 'at school' effort.

Through the project, students will learn more about plant propagation through planting cedar trees and bird of paradise plants and local fauna through erecting bluebird boxes.