At the February 6 Community School District meeting, the trustees voted to approve $700 in funding toward the creation of a forest garden behind the high school tennis courts.

The garden was the idea of Boothbay Region High School health and physical education teacher Bryan Dionne, and is being spearheaded by freshman student Riley Spear.

“Every year I like to have the students do a project that makes a positive difference in the community,” Dionne said. “When the tennis courts got put in, a few of the trees in the area were removed.

“This will restore the balance.”

A “Forest Garden” is a garden where all the plants present exist in a symbiotic relationship with each other. It is low-maintenance by nature, and mostly self-sustaining. This particular garden will be focused around a couple of peach trees, with other supporting plants, shrubs, herbs and vines to create a supporting environment. Dionne hopes that this will include wild Maine blueberries as well.

“We'll plan this winter, and then begin the creation of the garden in the spring,” Dionne said. “We need to make sure it doesn't interfere with the completion of the tennis courts. Or the cross-county teams running, that was very important to the trustees.”

Dionne will stay on the project in a faculty advisory role, while Spear and various classes will help with garden creation and maintenance. Since Spear is a freshman, he will be able to stay with the project during his time at BRHS.

“I love all the technology available to the kids today, the iPads and all, but sometimes it's really good to get outside and get your hands dirty,” Dionne said.