Garden Party

Every garden begins with a seed. Ours was planted years before the land was even purchased on the outskirts of Northfield, MN. Edible Schoolyard creator, groundbreaking chef and former Montessori teacher, Alice Waters, was a huge influence and inspiration as I dreamed about my ideal school environment. The school garden, from which we would gather vegetables and herbs for cooking and sharing with families, was the very first thing that took real form at our school site.

The months before our opening in the fall of 2007 were filled with renovation and construction. Lots of trucks, lots of debris, and what felt like very slow progress. It was quite an overwhelming and anxious time. The clearing and plotting out of the school garden was, in contrast, a much more manageable task. The demolition of a small barn behind the house had left a plot of very fertile soil (the barn had housed some calves over the years, I believe). Although we raked and raked the soil that summer, each spring we still find remnants of that structure, mostly window glass and splinters of red painted wood.

Many friends  came out to lend a hand, one was a master gardener who tested our soil and dispensed invaluable advice to this non-farming teacher.

The garden began to take shape. We were so eager to plant so that everything could grow over the summer and greet the children when they arrived in the fall. We chose vegetables, herbs and fruits that would be complements to the cooking program I had always enjoyed in my classrooms.

Enrollment was in full swing for this new school and we were ready to host an informal "Garden Party" for families to join us out at our property. The building was still very much a construction zone but everyone was eager to come help plant and finish off the edible schoolyard for their children.

Planting the garden was so satisfying and symbolic for all of us. It wasn't September yet, but already our school felt like a community--filled with love, joy and the promise of new growth.

Next: The garden goes live.