WTA Horticulture students Andrew Santos, Alistair Reid, Connor Jones and Gavin Knightly plant apples trees at Munger Hill on Wednesday. (Photos by Amy Porter)
WESTFIELD – Instructor David Dion and four sophomores from the Horticulture Technology shop at Westfield Technical Academy planted three apple trees during an outdoor class for third graders at Munger Hill Elementary School on Wednesday. The program was part of a Farm to Table grant funded by the Westfield Foundation for Education.
While Connor Jones, Andrew Santos, Alistair Reid and Gavin Knightly planted the Golden Delicious, Honey Crisp and Gala trees, Dion spoke to the third graders about the apple trees. He said these particular varieties were chosen because they “taste really good.”
Munger Hill 3rd grade teachers Claire Adams, Katherine Bitzas and Christy Roselli.
Third grade teacher Claire Adams asked when the trees would produce apples to pick. Dion explained that the first year, the tree is in shock and has to adjust to its new environment. The second year, the roots start to creep, and by the third year, the tree will have all the energy it needs to produce fruit. He asked the students to repeat, “sleeps, creeps and jumps,” which they did with gusto.
Dion also told the students the trees will pollinate each other, and asked the students what they meant. One replied that it means the pollen will go from tree to tree. When he asked how, the students said with the help of bees. As a part of the grant, the Horticulture Tech shop will also teach a class on bees and beekeeping to the students, although he said they couldn’t bring bees to the school, to the students’ protestations.
3rd grader Makayla Ellis said she didn’t know that “if you planted an apple seed, it would form into a crabapple tree.”
Dion explained that when a bee flies to a tree to feed on the blossoms, pollen sticks to its legs, and the bee brings it to the next tree. He said after a blossom is pollinated, the petioles fall off and the fruit starts to form.The students said he must mean “petals.” He said inside of the apple are the seeds.
Dion also asked the students if they had ever heard of Johnny Appleseed. He said part of the story is true, and part isn’t factual. He said there was a man named John Chapman from a wealthy family in Longmeadow. He did travel out west planting apple seeds. Dion said that apples are not true to seeds, and they grow up as crabapple trees. Johnny sold the crabapple orchards at a profit to settlers who needed to have clean water from the juice, according to Dion.
Horticulture Tech teacher David Dion and Andrew Santos form water ring around tree.
After the Horticulture students dug and planted the trees, they made a water ring around the base, before filling in with mulch. Dion explained to the third graders, whose job it will be to water the trees, that the water ring will keep the water at the base of the trees, and keep it from spreading out.
Lily Tremblay, with her teacher Katherine Blitzas. “I like trees, they’re pretty interesting,” said Lily.
Dion said they will also be returning to the school to build three raised bed gardens in front of the new orchard, where they will plant vegetables raised in the greenhouse at Westfield Tech. He said last year the garden was kept up over the summer by community members.
HorticultureTechnology is holding its annual spring plant sale May 9 to May 13. Hours are Tuesday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Wednesday and Thursday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday (unless sold out), 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Greylock Street entrance to the school.
