School Students Grow Vegetables for Area Needy Families

By Anthony Makara, Fairfax Master Gardener
Students from the W.T. Woodson High School Environmental Club have been growing fresh vegetables in their school garden to help Fairfax County families experiencing food insecurity. This began when the Urban Agricultural Workgroup of the Fairfax Food Council approached Woodson and asked if their Environmental Club students would be interested in starting a vegetable garden at the school. This was in answer to the spike in demand for food as a result of the COVID pandemic. Those who regularly donated food, including restaurants and farmers, have been struggling, and thus the need for fresh produce became greater.

Tony Makara and Woodson advison Lauren Kinne guide students

Adria Bordas, Senior Extension Agent and a member the Fairfax Food Council, had already been advocating for ways that the Fairfax Master Gardeners Association could assist with school and faith-based community gardens. This initiative took root several seasons ago with the on-site Master Gardener assistance given to several public community gardens. Adria visualized arrangements where a dedicated Master Gardener could be assigned as a dedicated mentor to each such endeavor, and several initiatives have taken shape.

At Woodson HS, I accepted this responsibility and met with faculty mentors to assess the present status and how assistance could best be provided. In one of the early meetings with the student gardeners, I gave a presentation on various garden principles such as planning for the size of the garden, what to plant each month, succession planting, soil preparation and other important requirements. In general, it has mostly been “flexing” to the needs that I saw could be met. The Environmental Club students became empowered to work together in an outdoor setting to learn about gardening and to help their community. It has become a rewarding experience for everyone. The students have already harvested and donated spinach, rainbow chard and lettuce, and are well under way to delivering bounties of cucumbers, beans, squash and tomatoes.

Woodson High Science Department Chairperson and Environmental Club adviser, Lauren Kinne, said farming for food banks met a variety of goals she had for students during the pandemic year. “The link between improved mental health and being in nature is real,” said Kinne, who teaches biology at Woodson and oversaw the school’s garden project. “They were also able to safely work on a group activity during the pandemic: they could socially distance by tending to separate garden beds, being outdoors, wearing masks and give back to the community at the same time.”

I have continued to send the students periodic information about gardening methods and possible insect and weed problems. The students and their teachers are considering expansion of the size of the garden in time for fall crops. While school was in session the students met in group settings on Tuesday afternoons for hands-on garden activities, including some weekends. With school not in session for the summer, individual students have taken on the responsibilities for garden maintenance during an assigned week. Produce from the garden is being delivered to Food for Others, a Fairfax-based organization, that in turn provides area families in need with food.