Houston – Students at H.C. Carleston Elementary in Pearland received a surprise that promises to grow into a lasting educational legacy - their own school garden complete with raised beds and an array of fruits, vegetables, and herbs.
If you would like to help H.C. Carleston Elementary keep its garden growing and inspire the next generation of gardeners, they have an Amazon Wishlist with a list of items they need. Click here to help out!
The project, spearheaded by H&H Landscape Design in partnership with the Houston Home and Garden Show, transformed an outdoor space at the school into an interactive learning environment where students will gain hands-on experience in gardening and nutrition.
Building Community Through Growth
H&H Landscape Design’s team spent four and a half hours constructing the garden beds, demonstrating their commitment to community service. The company’s recent track record includes installing water wells for 700 people across three villages in Colombia.
“It’s absolutely phenomenal because we love to give back to the community continuously,” said Hubert Escobar, who owns H&H Landscape Design with his wife Heidy. “These students will be able to grow and eat from this garden. It’s going to be outstanding,” said Escobar
Educational Benefits Take Root
“It’s heartwarming to see everybody growing together, growing friendships together, and building Pearland proud,’ said Principal Amy Etchberger, emphasizing the garden’s educational value beyond traditional classroom learning. “This gives them real-world, hands-on experience to feel the soil and be able to eat the fruits and vegetables that we grow,” she said.
Students immediately began planting various crops, including basil, blueberries, and other produce that will eventually supplement school meals. The experience particularly resonated with students who lack gardening opportunities at home.
“I’ve always wanted a garden because we don’t have a backyard since we live in an apartment,” said Kaitlin, a student at H.C. Carleston Elementary.
Take a look at the first planting in this video below!
Sustainable Impact
The garden project represents more than just an educational tool. Students recognized its potential economic benefits, noting it could help reduce food costs for the school cafeteria while providing fresh produce.
Dee Brown, who helped coordinate the initiative, highlighted the project’s broader impact. “This is what it’s all about, giving back to our Houston community. We are Houston proud. We are Pearland proud,” she said.
The garden beds will serve future generations of H.C. Carleston Elementary students, creating a sustainable legacy of hands-on learning and environmental education in the Pearland school district.