Last year, Sue Taylor, Laura Reysz, Mary Zajac and Cammy Dubie, members of the Science Department, were awarded funds from the PTPA so that sustainable, organic garden spaces could be created on our campus.
The first and most visible project was initiated last year when six raised beds were purchased, prepared and cultivated. Middle School and Upper School students planted a variety of flowers, herbs and vegetables that were harvested over the summer and during the fall of the 2016-2017 school year. Students from the Middle School iBlock Urban Gardening class were the primary "keepers of the crops" and enjoyed many a watermelon feast and salsa-making challenge with the prolific produce that was grown. Upper School students conducted soil tests and monitored the raised beds, as well. Much of the food was shared with our school neighbors, students and faculty. Eventually the plan is to donate produce to a local food bank or to use it in our own cafeteria.
Plans were also made to preserve the few remaining apple trees on campus with the goal to start a Lilly Legacy Orchard. Faculty members Sue Taylor, Laura Reysz, Mary Zajac and Mike Smith traveled to Purdue University to meet with Professor Peter Hirst, an award-winning, nationally recognized Pomologist. He gave a quick grafting lesson and answered questions about how to start an orchard here on campus. The necessary rootstock was ordered and Upper School students are grafting 10 trees using the buds from our original Lilly Orchard trees. Mike Smith's classes have been monitoring these trees in the greenhouse area just off his classroom. This rootstock will need to grow for several years before it is ready to be planted into the Legacy Orchard location.
Just this spring, Lower School teachers Lane Waters and Lori McIntosh used some of the funds to have their classes create an urban garden in the courtyard between their classrooms. Students started vegetable seeds in their classrooms in homemade greenhouses, then the plants were transferred to a straw bale garden, a convenient way to start a garden anywhere. Seeds have also been planted in soil surrounding the straw bales. Lower School students are looking forward to harvesting kale, spinach, peas, broccoli, and lettuce. The garden is creating a love of nature while also teaching about healthy eating habits.
Funds from this grant were also used to purchase hand trowels and shovels, a storage shed for the equipment, a hydroponics grow station, some indoor grow carts for the seedlings, and three additional raised beds for this new growing season. Fresh soil has been ordered and this year's crops are in the ground. Students all around the campus are eager to add "gardener" to their list of many talents, and look forward to the continuation of this project.