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Fruits & vegetables & herbs…oh my!

The start of the new school year means many things – a new grade, teacher, lessons, friends, activities…the list goes on. For members of Ridge Family Center’s Garden Club, it also means celebrating a bountiful new harvest.

Founded approximately 10 years ago, the Garden Club is an after-school program open to Ridge K-5 grade students. Meeting once a week, members dive into the world of horticulture, learning about plant care and participating in activities like spring planting, pre-fall harvesting, preparing the garden for winter, and taste testing foods they have never had before.

This year, thanks to the hard work and dedication from Garden Club members, the harvest was plenty abundant. The garden yielded a delicious array of vegetables, and herbs, including carrots, zucchini, cucumbers, tomatoes, and lettuce, and even beets and radishes  – providing options for everyone to enjoy.

Mrs. Brickley and Mrs. Oates have overseen Garden Club for the last several years.

“Ridge has had a garden since the school began in 2001, and it initially started as a sensory garden that’s been an extension of the classroom. Staff and students have worked hard to maintain it for years,” said Mrs. Brickley.

“Over the last 10 or so years, the Garden Club has been keeping it up and running. It’s a great way for students to develop responsibility, learn new skills, and connect with nature,” Mrs. Oates said.

The Garden Club will now prep the space for the fall and winter months ahead so it’s ready to go for the spring.