The students of North Middle School Health Sciences and Technology Campus may not have considered becoming professional chefs, but many of them are learning what it takes to plant and cultivate fresh crops for the kitchen.
Students from the after-school gardening club first pushed the idea of creating a garden four years ago. With some help from community supporters and school staff, the garden soon became a reality and students recently rolled up their sleeves for its first harvest. For club members like Franchesca Reyes, the garden represents a significant accomplishment.
“At first, I didn’t think this was going to be anything big,” Reyes said. “We started planting stuff, and then the next year everything started growing. It was so much fun.”
Students picked a variety of vegetables and spices that were ready for the harvest, including cherry tomatoes, chili peppers and rosemary. The food grown in the garden will be used in meals cafeteria staff will serve to students.
Club members hope the next phase of student leaders will preserve what they helped to build once they head to high school next year.
“I hope they make good use of the garden and learn how to make healthy meals,” Vanessa Leon said.
