Elks help build Priest River Elementary school garden
Sandpoint Elks members as well as a school garden committee pose for a photo after building a school garden at Priest River Elementary.
(Courtesy photo)
Members of the Sandpoint Elks Lodge headed over to Priest River earlier this month to help build a garden project at Priest River Elementary. Taking part were Sandpoint Elks members, a school garden committee, comprised of members from the community of Priest River, Priest River Elementary and West Bonner County School District staff, a member of the Bonner County Gardeners Association and member from Bonner County Health Coalition.
The school was awarded a Beacon Grant from the Sandpoint Elks Lodge in the amount of $3,500 to help fund the purchase of supplies used in the garden construction. Eight members of the Sandpoint Elks brought wheelbarrows, shovels, landscape rakes and even a plate compactor to tamp down 2 1/2 cubic yards of gravel used for a wheelchair-accessible ramp into the garden as well as a section of the garden that will contain a raised garden bed designed for wheelchair access.
About 3 1/2 cubic yards of wood chips were distributed in the remainder of the garden as a base for additional raised beds. The Sandpoint Elks have contributed Beacon grant monies and labor for multiple school gardens in the Sandpoint area.
The Priest River Elementary garden will be the first of its kind in the West Bonner County School District.