FLASHBACK THURSDAY 5-17-2000 Knowledge grows through planting on the Withlacoochee State Trail

Citrus Springs Middle School students learn about soil, erosion and community service by planting bushes and trees at the Withlacoochee State Trail.

Bobby Clark uses his full weight to dig a hole for a plant

along the parking lot for the Withlacoochee State Trail.

Times photo - RON THOMPSON

Reprinted from the Citrus Times By PAULETTE LASH RITCHIE. Times Correspondent

CITRUS SPRINGS - The morning was clear and cool, but the day promised to be a warm one. While the air was still cool, though, Citrus Springs Middle School students dived into their chores with gusto.

They had walked from their school to the nearby access to the Withlacoochee State Trail and were enthusiastically shoveling Citrus County-donated dirt into gullies, spreading mulch and planting trees and bushes.

"What we've got is an organized chaotic situation," said science teacher Randy Hobson, 43. "We are learning as we go." Hobson and fellow teachers Carl Chambers, 27, and Melony Siegendorf, 29, had their students outside May 19 beautifying the trail as a lesson, Siegendorf said, to "tie-in in a hands on fashion what we teach in the curriculum." She is the agriscience teacher and her class has been studying soils.

The science teachers, Chambers and Hobson, are reinforcing the concepts of erosion, environmental awareness and community service. And, Hobson said, the activity is helping "to burn off excess energy at the end of the school year."

The teachers and students were assisted by Ed Pineau, who works part-time for the Florida Parks Service; Janice Hannell, whom Pineau described as a "tireless volunteer"; and Jane Weber, who has a nursery and donated the plants that day.

Two of the students seemed to be so proud of themselves for planting the little trees that they decided they would come back to see their trees years down the road, Weber said; chuckling. Seventh-graders Jake Jahnke, 14, and Josias Cabrera, 12, said they are coming back when they're 65 - "Because I planted' this tree," said Josias, "and I want to see how big it gets."

MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS VOLUNTEER

AT SOUTH CITRUS SPRINGS TRAIL HEAD:

Students from Citrus Springs Middle School spent the day on Friday, May 19, 2000 planting trees and bushes, spreading mulch, and filling in gullies to beautify and help stop erosion on the trail. The idea for the project was born when science teacher Randy Hobson paid a visit to the Withlacoochee State Trail with his daughter and noticed a soil erosion problem at the South Citrus Springs trail head. It was then that he came up with the idea for a xeriscape project to enhance the appearance of the area and teach his students some valuable lessons about soil erosion, environmental awareness, and community service at the same time.

His request for community support for the project was answered by Sand Land of Florida Enterprises, Inc., a local landfill site that produces organic compost from recycled yard waste and brush. The organic compost was essential as the soil in the area is sandy and sterile.

Community support also came from Master Gardener Jane Weber of Dunnellon, who donated plants and volunteered her time to assist the students with their project. Also helping were science teacher Karl Chambers, agriscience teacher Melony Siegendorf, whose class has been studying soils, seasonal trail employee Ed Pineau, and RTW volunteer Janice Hannel.

(Ed and Janice are both also Master Gardeners). This is not the first outdoor project the kids have been involved in, but it is the first planting project outside school grounds. The project not only provides a habitat for animals living in the area, but it also has given the students something to take pride in for years to come. Many of students involved plan to keep an eye on the area to see how their trees are doing over the years. The Citrus Springs Middle School campus is located adjacent to the trail head property on South Citrus Springs Boulevard in Citrus Springs.