The Heiman Elementary School garden continues to blossom and grow!

This summer, the Huskies’ school garden was remodeled and renamed to reflect the school’s inclusive environment. The Ann K. Heiman Universal Garden welcomes students and staff of all abilities to the garden. Garden paths are wide enough to accommodate wheelchairs and other walking assistive devices, and school volunteers are in the process of constructing a raised, table height garden bed that allows for wheelchair users to comfortably garden. One of the garden paths was named “Mr. Joel’s Kindness Path” after former Special Education Paraprofessional Joel Crain. Mr. Joel passed away in January 2026 and was a beloved member of the Heiman Community. 

The remodel was made possible thanks to the hard work of multiple garden volunteers who spent the summer hauling lumber, building raised beds, hauling and mixing garden soiling, digging irrigation trenches and hail prevention post holes, installing phase 1 of a drip irrigation system, installing trellis systems, and watering, weeding, and caring for the garden plants during the long hot summer months. Master Gardener and School Nurse Jennifer Berg-Ramsey dutifully oversaw the garden’s construction. 

Enthusiastic gardening students were able to visit the garden in late July, and were THRILLED to see the transformation. These students watered plants, learned about the variety of produce in the garden, planted additional tomato plants, and learned how to combat the invasive Japanese beetle, thanks to School Counselor Stefanie Mora's lessons in the garden.

The Heiman Universal Garden is part of the District 6 Farm to School program, and receives funding from a Team Nutrition Grant. Please visit our website to learn more about Farm to School! 

Many thanks to the following for supporting the Heiman Universal Garden! We appreciate your partnership and support. 

• District 6 Nutrition Services - Team Nutrition Grant
• STL Construction - labor donated for construction of the shed/greenhouse
• Jansma Concrete - labor donated for concrete pad for our shed/greenhouse
• A1 Organics - donation of soil/compost mixture for raised garden beds
• Pope Farms - donation of seedling plants for garden
• Mitchell Family for donation of 3 fruit trees
• Anita Judd for donation of 1 fruit tree
• 84 Lumber for discount on lumber for raised beds
• Home Depot for discount on building materials for shed/greenhouse