School Garden

My children's elementary school has a very large garden that I have worked to create and maintain. Over the last 5 years, I have helped to build the soil quality, plan the native garden beds and create new planting areas. Some beds have perennial crops to show the students that gardens can produce throughout the year. Asparagus, blackberry and raspberry bushes, strawberries, paw paw and apple trees, horseradish and native beds are part of our perennial area. We designated other beds for annual crops in which we grow a variety of greens, popcorn, tomatoes, peppers, and potatoes. The school garden is one of my favorites because it is where young people learn how to cultivate and nurture plants to produce fruits, vegetables and herbs. They see the actual fruits -and vegetables and herbs- of their labor in their cafeteria at lunchtime. I also help to teach lessons about honey bees, local and native foods, and healthy eating while students are working in the school garden.