Gustatory greenies make good on garden goals

It may have seemed a long time coming to some, but the "Sprout Spot" at Irving Primary School, the "Lettuce Grow" garden at Bartle Elementary, and the Highland Park Middle & High School's "Garden of Eatin'" are in full swing. Teachers, students and the community are enjoying the fruits (or veggies!) of their labor.

At the middle school/high school garden, Dara Botvinick often holds class surrounded by the lettuce, spinach, peas, beans, nasturtium, and tomato and squash plants. "I really enjoy the impact of the garden on the students,” says Botvinick.

"Students feel more connected to the school and take ownership… Since we've been using the garden for class...that area of ground feels like it is theirs, now the school belongs to them.”

Incorporating the garden into an English class curriculum came easy. While each year, Botvinick's classes read a novel about a community garden -- Seed Folks, by Paul Fleishman -- this year, they could connect the story to their own experience.

Botvinick says, “The garden has built a connection between the community and the school.” Students in her class have been active after school hours in caring for the gardens. She looks forward to seeing students get more involved "by bringing the food into the cafeteria and donating to community organizations like the food bank."

Elijah’s Promise recently received lettuces, arugula, and radishes from the middle school/high school’s first harvest. And on a recent Saturday morning, patrons of the Highland Park Community Food Pantry were indeed able to take home radishes and bags of greens from the school gardens; herbs, berries, and tomato and basil seedlings from members of the local Edible Gardens Project; and peas from the garden outside the H.P. Public Library.

The school gardens can still use volunteers over the summer to help water, weed, and harvest, and to help distribute harvests at the food banks. Student Garden Corps volunteers can receive community service credit and a cash stipend for their participation. E-mail Student Garden Corps coordinator Bruno Oriti at BrunoOriti@gmail.com.