Retired teacher invites Gresham‑Barlow board to tour two small native forests as outdoor classrooms
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Summary
A retired teacher, Anne Nessie, told the board about two "tiny forest" plantings on Walters Drive and invited board members to tour them. She described educational and environmental benefits and estimated the cost at about $2 per square foot for a 600‑square‑foot planting.
A retired Gresham‑Barlow teacher, identified in the record as Anne Nessie, used public comment time on Aug. 27 to invite the board to tour two small native forest plantings on Walters Drive that she and volunteers helped establish.
Nessie said the plantings follow a "tiny forest" or Miyawaki approach and can serve as outdoor classrooms where students learn about native ecosystems, water and soil health, and receive time in full‑spectrum natural light. "First you have to love nature to protect it," she said, and described classroom benefits including reduced stress levels and opportunities for hands‑on lessons using clipboards and paper.
Nessie estimated the planting cost at "about $2 per square foot" and said one of the sites is about 600 square feet, which she said could serve as an outdoor classroom for two classes. She told the board the plantings require minimal maintenance after the first two to three years and that volunteers and local donations helped cover costs.
Nessie invited board members to tour the sites and said she would provide invitations and contact information at the meeting. The board thanked her and asked district staff to follow up on scheduling a visit.
No board action was taken on the comment; it was recorded as part of the public comment period.