Douglas

The task of setting up a school garden is challenging, but it can be accomplished with the help of people like Douglas who promptly respond to call for help.

Here is adjusts the tubing that will supply water to Aprende's plots.

Building Community

As Fall approaches and gardeners scramble to get ready for it, FIGG invites Aprende NJHS students to help out. 

Eleanor and Kathy rejoice.  These two are avid gardeners here at at home.

Alan, is a master at mentoring youth.  Here they prepare a food bank plot.

Another team working on a food bank plot.

The Children's Plot is carefully tended by Aprende's NJHS members.

Pam, the ever present supervisor, guides the youth.

This is a very fulfilling experience for everyone.  The students that volunteer for this day of work obviously enjoy it, and the gardeners appreciate the help, especially those that manage the food bank plots.

Green thumbs all around.

Waggoner students visit FIGG

On this nice Spring day, anyone driving by would notice a bunch of very engaged students at the garden.  Melissa, Pam, Laura, Marni, and Doug had the usual lessons prepared for the young and curious students.  They planted, they touched worms, they made compost, and they even got to spread some peanut butter on the celery harvested from the Children's plot.

 

Pretty cool experience for all involved.

The masterminds

Aprende Grows is a garden club at Aprende MIddle School.

These masterminds are ensuring the experience of creating a garden in this hard as a rock yet full of possibilities location comes to fruition.

 

 

Here's to adults working for kids.

Framing

Expanding the garden requires the making of new bed frames.  And the same goes for Aprende Middle School's garden.

 

 

Let's just say we built many frames that day.

Aprende Grows

 

 

Aprende Middle School is well on its way to getting the much anticipated garden "Aprende Grows".  Saturday's work day was a go despite the pouring rain. Alex, Alan, and Eduarda made the supply purchasing come together.  Doug handled sharp tools with the students. At the end of a few hours we had several irrigation systems ready.   And what an experience it was.  For those who don't know, assembling irrigation systems is way up there on the challenging scale.  In a circle, adults and students commiserated about hurt fingers and best tricks to get parts to fit together.

 

Aprende Grows

FIGG is making good on its mission to support other community gardens.  Aprende Middle School has organized a gardening club named Aprende Grows.  The students have met, elected officers, gone on a field trip, and will be building their garden in January.

 

Youth at work

Aprende NJHS students joined FIGG gardeners once again as we got the garden ready for Fall. 

 Take a look.

Bugs, Worms, and Plant Searches

Learning about good and bad worms is fun.  So is finding plants from pictures.

 Ninos visits the garden once more.

Green Houses

Built by Aprende NJHS students, these green houses help the gardeners start seedlings for Food Bank plots and more.

Repeat visit from Aprende NJHS

What a treat it is to have Aprende NJHS students immerse themselves in garden activities.

They unloaded compost, built 2 green houses, planted seeds, sprayed weeds, and harvested.

Thank you!