University High School students, staff, and families created an organic community garden in May of 2013. They maintained and nurtured the garden throughout the summer and into the fall, harvesting tomatoes and other vegetables. Science teachers assisted the students and used the garden as a teaching tool. As this is an ongoing project, they look forward to adapting the garden to meet the needs of their school community year after year.

Student, staff, and parent volunteers broke up and worked the soil, adding the necessary nutrients to create a healthy soil for growing vegetables.

Raised garden beds are great for growing vegetables . They keep pathway weeds from your garden soil, prevent soil compaction, provide good drainage and serve as a barrier to pests such as slugs and snails. They also keep valuable garden soil from being eroded or washed away during heavy rains.

UHS students invited all families of students and staff to participate in their community garden.

Marigolds can be used anywhere to deter Mexican bean beetles, squash bugs, thrips, tomato hornworms, and whiteflies. They are also known to repel harmful root knot nematodes (soil dwelling microscopic white worms) that attack tomatoes, potatoes, roses, and strawberries. The root of the Marigold produces a chemical that kills nematodes as they enter the soil.

University High School students mapped out where the raised garden beds were to be placed.

Community gardens offer unique opportunities to teach youth about: • Where food comes from • Practical math skills • The importance of community and stewardship • Issues of environmental sustainability • Job and life skills

The UHS Environmental Club and school community have plans to both continue and expand their community garden in the years to come.

It took the hard work and cooperation of University High School administrators, staff, students, and families to make their new organic community garden a success. Next year, this team hopes to harvest their crop for use in the school cafeteria. Kudos to all!

As the UHS Community Teaching Garden grows and develops each year, community members of all ages enjoy the benefits of learning about how to grow their own vegetables.