School Conservation and Certifications
Oak Forest Elementary School garden is a registered affiliate school garden of Houston's Urban Harvest and in March 2014 was awarded its Golden Trowel Award. Urban Harvest, which sponsors two farmers markets, advocates a natural, organic, ecological approach to gardening in the metro Houston area and offers classes on such topics as how to start and maintain school and other community gardens; how to prune fruit trees, bushes, and vines; how to establish fall and spring gardens; and how to understand and practice permaculture.
The hummingbird and butterfly bed planted with milkweeds in front of the portable classrooms is certified as a monarch waystation by Monarch Watch. A waystation provides nectar sources for the adult monarch butterfly and milkweed plants for the larval or caterpillar form of the monarch butterfly.
Hummingbirds find nectar sources in flower beds by the portable classrooms and orchard, in the main 5th grade and annex gardens, around the marquee, and at the school entrance. The orchard contains a bird bath, a chimney swift tower, purple martin houses, bird feeders, and fruit trees visited by mockingbirds. The main 5th grade garden has a purple martin house, another birdhouse, and bee nesting houses. The annex garden has flowers to attract pollinators and hummingbirds. The Oak Forest Elementary School campus is certified as a National Audubon Partner with the National Audubon Society.
The Oak Forest Elementary School campus is certified with Texas Wildscapes, a habitat restoration and conservation plan for rural and urban areas, and Schoolyard Habitats, a joint effort of the National Wildlife Federation and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
The hummingbird and butterfly bed planted with milkweeds in front of the portable classrooms is certified as a monarch waystation by Monarch Watch. A waystation provides nectar sources for the adult monarch butterfly and milkweed plants for the larval or caterpillar form of the monarch butterfly.
Hummingbirds find nectar sources in flower beds by the portable classrooms and orchard, in the main 5th grade and annex gardens, around the marquee, and at the school entrance. The orchard contains a bird bath, a chimney swift tower, purple martin houses, bird feeders, and fruit trees visited by mockingbirds. The main 5th grade garden has a purple martin house, another birdhouse, and bee nesting houses. The annex garden has flowers to attract pollinators and hummingbirds. The Oak Forest Elementary School campus is certified as a National Audubon Partner with the National Audubon Society.
The Oak Forest Elementary School campus is certified with Texas Wildscapes, a habitat restoration and conservation plan for rural and urban areas, and Schoolyard Habitats, a joint effort of the National Wildlife Federation and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
If you would like to know more about our organization or would like to volunteer you may directly contact OFE Growers Board President Mrs. Brooke Smart at brooke.smart@humbleisd.net.