High school's fruit, vegetable garden offers students opportunities for year-round lessons

Hammonton High School culinary arts teacher Lou Caruso's idea to create an organic and environmentally sound fruit, vegetable and herb garden at the school became a reality for two reasons.




First, the Hammonton Education Foundation provided $1,500 for materials and equipment. Second, Hammonton residents Don and Rhonda Maimone donated $800 worth of starter plants.

The garden offers a year-round activity that involves several departments and enhances students' learning.

During the winter, students from several science classes grow plants in the high school greenhouse and transfer them in the spring and fall to the garden, which was designed by students in computer drafting and design classes.

A picket fence -- built by woodworking technology students using recycled lumber from discarded pallets -- surrounds the garden.

Students in food and nutrition classes and the Culinary Club use the garden produce in their cooking and canning lessons. Students in the Enrichment and Pride programs also take part in the project.

"I've been using the garden to teach students in both the high school and the middle school," Caruso said. "The students are very excited, and until we started this project, many didn't realize just how much agricultural activity occurs in Hammonton."

A system that will collect rainwater and recycle it to irrigate the garden is planned as a student project for the upcoming school year, Caruso said.