Students at Newton Middle School in Centennial are learning about food firsthand, by working in the school's garden, and recently unearthed some of the fruits of their labor
Newton's math teacher, Marc Goodreau, runs an elective course in which students join the Garden Club. The ‘Knight-Time students’ meet after school to work in the garden, and just recently harvested some of their plants.
In April, Garden Club members planted 700 seedlings in the school's garden. Their goal was to produce one ton of food, which they planned to donate to the food pantry run by the Salvation Army. Once the seedlings were sturdy enough, students transplanted about half of them to the garden on Arapahoe Road run by the Army.
Students sold the rest of the plants and gave the proceeds to the Newton Kid Fund. The fund is used to support students in various ways, such a providing funds so they can buy school supplies, and making it possible for them to afford to go on field trips.
Thus far, the garden has produced about 600lb of fresh produce for the Salvation Army Food Pantry, and there is more to be harvested. In addition, Whole Foods partnered with Goodreau and his Knight-Time class, and donated $2,350.
School officials might work with a brochure printing company to create a booklet for residents about the garden, encouraging them to consider the movement toward sustainable food production.
