Public Domain Picture: 20110609-DM-LSC-0377

Washington Capitals defenseman Jeff Schultz had workout controlling a power tiller during the construction of a People’s Garden, at William B. Powell Elementary School, in Washington, DC, on Thursday, June 9, 2011. The professional hockey player did more than a celebrity appearance; he spent hours working with several project teams; gloves on; putting power and hand tools to their test. Volunteers from U.S. Department of Agriculture People’s Garden Executive Master Gardener program and Washington Capitals hockey organization, along with defenseman Jeff Schultz, and mascot Slapshot transformed a grassy corner of the school playground into a habitat garden and outdoor learning area. Executive Master Gardeners led the volunteer project teams. The Washington Capitals donated new tools; tool shed; garden materials; lunch; most of the volunteers and more. The completed projects included a walking path; tiling of garden plots; planting a bird habitat garden, pollinator garden and native grasses; caterpillar and butterfly plaques; hummingbird and bat house, and tool shed. The garden will later include a picnic area, outdoor classroom, hummingbird garden, Monarch watch garden, native bee garden, and birdbath. USDA challenges its employees to establish People's Gardens at USDA facilities worldwide or on this case, help communities create gardens. People's Gardens vary in size and type, but all have a common purpose - to help the community and the environment. USDA photo by Lance Cheung.

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Bathouse, Children, Dc, Habitatgarden, Jeffschultz, Mascot, Mastergardner, Mulch, Path, Peoplesgarden, Plant, Planting, Powellelementary, Slapshot, Students, Tiller, Toolshed, Unitedstates, Usda, Usdepartmentofagriculture, Washington, Washingtoncapitals

May 20, 2014