There’s only one thing bigger than Wyatt Ashley’s green thumb and that’s his heart.
Over the summer, the Leonard Elementary fifth-grader took it upon himself to plant and maintain a vegetable garden on school grounds and donate everything he’s grown to the elderly folks who frequent the senior center in Lakeville.
‘His father (Brett) and I, we couldn’t be more proud,? said Wyatt’s mother Rachelle. ‘He sets his mind to something and he just makes it happen. It’s really exciting just to watch.?
The whole thing started earlier in the year when Leonard second-graders came up with ideas for how to improve their school as part of a lesson on how to write persuasive opinion pieces.
Leonard Principal Paul McDevitt said often the second-graders suggest things such as more recess time and new cafeteria foods, but this year, about three or four of them proposed planting a school garden.
His initial reaction was ‘it’s great in theory, but I don’t think it’s practical,? given the majority of the growing season is over the summer when school is out and there would be nobody around to care for it.
That’s when Wyatt stepped up and offered to take on the garden project.
‘He loves outdoor work,? Rachelle said. ‘He considers himself a farmer. That’s just his thing. It’s one of his passions.?
Wyatt, who wants to be a farmer when he grows up, loves helping his grandfather, Fred Ashley, tend to his 8?-acre farm on Baza St. in Leonard.
With some help from his grandfather, Wyatt tilled a small plot of land at the school, then planted a variety of vegetables including cabbage, eggplant, zucchini, peppers, green beans, broccoli, cucumbers, tomatoes and potatoes.
‘We tried our best to fit everything in there,? Wyatt said.
‘It’s not a huge garden, but he’s been able to harvest a lot,? Rachelle noted.
After the garden was planted, Wyatt spent a half-hour every Monday afternoon weeding, watering, monitoring and harvesting his crops. ‘As long as it wasn’t pouring (rain), he was out there,? Rachelle said.
Once the vegetables started coming in, Wyatt, with the help of his grandmother, Cindy Ashley, began donating them to the senior center in Lakeville.
‘They can’t garden themselves, so it’s nice to give them fresh food,? Wyatt said.
‘A lot of times, (the seniors) can’t have their own gardens anymore or make it to the grocery store,? Rachelle said. ‘He loves to do good for other people. He likes to make other people happy.?
McDevitt is proud of the way Wyatt has worked to improve his school and help people.
‘He’s always been a very impressive kid,? he said. ‘He’s got a good heart and when he finds ways to help, he usually takes action.?
‘A lot of people think about and talk about (doing things), and are willing to bring in some spare change to help, but Wyatt is really good at taking action and putting forth the effort to make it happen,? McDevitt added.
The principal would like to see the school’s vegetable garden live on after Wyatt graduates to middle school.
‘It’s a great thing for our school,? McDevitt said. ‘I hope to continue it. We’re looking to start a garden club.?