OTISFIELD – Every pupil at Otisfield Community School contributed to make their school look prettier, and they won’t stop planting anytime soon.

Pupils this month took part in planting a garden around the school, completing it Wednesday. They dug trenches, added mulch and laid bricks around the exterior. Each grade has a section.

The next mission is to build a greenhouse that, once installed, will be student-run, said Principal Linda Park.

The greenhouse will be 12- by 12-feet and located behind the school, Park said. It will be used by all students, who will start planting in the spring.

School officials will start building the greenhouse within the next month, Park said.

Park said she is looking for perennials for both the garden and the greenhouse. The school has purchased some, but hopes people will donate more out of their gardens. Parents have already donated several plants, Park said.

It is not school-funded. Park footed the $2,000 in costs, and hopes to be reimbursed through community donations and the Parent Teacher Association.

Park had to get a permit to build the greenhouse. At Wednesday’s meeting, selectmen approved the permit, waiving the application fee.

The school will start with perennials in the greenhouse, and maybe later start planting vegetables. Students may sell the plants as a service-learning project, Park said, adding that the greenhouse will help teach students lessons in science and math.

The garden project started three years ago as a kindergarten project, Park said. This year she had the vision to plant one all the way around the school. School custodian Barbara Maguire helped with the garden, and will help with the greenhouse.

“The kids are learning in science about germination, planting seeds; now they will actually be able to do it,” Maguire said.

The kids “really want to be a part of something, they really want to help,” she added.

Anyone who would like to donate to the project may phone 207-627-4208