The Garden Program

Gardening is educational and develops new skills including responsibility, self-confidence, reasoning, physical activity, cooperation, creativity, and wellness.  The Edna's Community Garden Project takes a typical garden concept a step further with a student-driven community beautification garden project and school-based food sharing component.  This innovative program is funded exclusively through public donations and grants from Impact The Palm Beaches, The Mary Durstine McArtor Reynolds Memorial Giving Fund and the friends and family of Simon Baker. 

To support the garden please click the link below to make a donation or become part of the garden by purchasing a brick.  

In addition to a custom learning curriculum for adults and children, there are three separate garden areas included in the Garden Project.  
  • Simon's Giving Garden - 12 raised garden beds including food and pollinator plants at the Edna W. Runner Tutorial Center 
  • Edna's Community Preserve - Public preserve and food forest being built at the entrance of Limestone Creek at the corner or Limestone Creek Road and Church Street 
  • The Nature Walk - Private Nature Preserve and Educational Walk including food-bearing native plants located next to the Edna W. Runner Tutorial Center 
Simon's Giving Garden
Donated by Simon Baker's adoring parents, Chris and Debby, and his loving brother, Sam, this living garden was built in December 2020 to honor of Simon's immense generosity and the value he placed upon being a fun-loving and compassionate friend.
 
Simon's Giving Garden was carefully designed to include an outdoor classroom, perennial plants, butterfly plants, and ADA accessible raised beds to base a full curriculum for STEM and wellness education.  An automated watering system supports healthy plant growth.  A pergola provides a colorful anti-bullying bench as a relaxing and quiet area for reflection, conflict resolution, and building friendships.  A beautiful water feature provides calming beauty set admist engraved bricks featuring inspirational quotes and names of the garden supporteres. 
 
As a part of the curriculum students are able to create personal gardens to bring home and share with their community.  These "giving gardens" expand the beauty of ths garden throuhgout the community and empowers the studets to provide food to others.  
 
About Simon Baker:  Simon Baker had a contagious smile, kind heart, and loved spending time with his family, friends, and dog, Harrison. His passions included: playing baseball, and basketball, photography, art, and the beach. He attended Jupiter High School, where he excelled academically.  We are forever grateful to Simon for sharing his gifts with us all and for creating opportunities for our community to enjoy the benefits of gardening.  

 

Edna's Community Preserve and The Nature Walk

Edna's Community Preserve:  This innovative preserve project includes the planting of Florida native plants and a butterfly garden, food bearing trees and plants for the community’s enjoyment and environmental education.  Together, these gardens will have a transformative impact on the mental health and wellness of the community's students and residents.

The Nature Walk:  Located on the campus of the Edna W Runner Tutorial Center, this private nature walk provides educational stations for students that build awareness about Florida native plants and animals.  

 

To order a paver brick please click the link below.  THANK YOU.

All proceeds after expenses support Edna W. Runner Tutorial Center, #65-0137715, a non-profit organization as recognized by the IRS. A copy of the official registration (CH 5903) and financial information may be obtained from the Division of Consumer Services by calling toll-free, 1-800-435-7352 (800-HELP-FLA) within the state or visiting www.800helpfla.com. Registration does not imply endorsement, approval, or recommendation by the state.