"Our garden does not just belong to the school. It is a community garden. Our neighbors give use financial contributions, plants, seeds, and equipment. They help weed, water, stake up plants, and pick pest from plants. When we are not in school, you never know what little things happen. The garden creates the feeling where neighbors and school are one. It is also wonderful to see the children working together in the garden. Some of more challenging children excel in the garden. To quote one kindergartener, 'Gardening is better than recess.'" - Guyla Woodbrey 

A kindergarten teacher who has taught at Saccarappa for 24 years, with an additional 10 years of experience as a Home Economics teacher, Guyla Woodbrey is the fearless leader and champion of their school garden. Her role includes assigning each of the twelve raised beds to classrooms, ordering compost, and planning a school-wide event where students and staff distribute the compost throughout the beds. She then supplies the materials and seedlings for classrooms to do the planting themselves, making it easy for teachers to get involved. During the summer months, she is the one who coordinates garden care and maintenance – this summer, watering was an issue for many school gardens but a simple letter home with students brought coverage from two parent volunteers per week. She and Linda Bois, another teacher and garden leader at the school, bring an exhibit and produce from the garden to the Cumberland Fair (a participant in the School Garden Grown project), and take home over $50 in premiums. As an added bonus, she is an avid champion of Maine Ag in the Classroom’s Read ME program (there’s still time to sign up as a volunteer!) and brought 100% participation to the Saccarappa School. You might call her a superstar.

Read more about the Saccarappa Elementary School Garden program here. 

If you'd like to get in touch with Guyla, learn more about their program, or schedule a visit, she can be reached at woodbreyg@westbrookschools.org.