Garden Installation at Alexander

Hamilton Academy

March 2010 I

By Amy Jolin, City Green Education Director

We visited Alexander Hamilton Academy on Marc 11 to install two raised bed gardens. A crew of 7 seventh graders arrived first. They’d been weeded out from their peers for the privilege of visiting the garden. They were wary of getting their cldan shoes and trousers dirty, but gloves and goggles helped them get over the hurdle. Half of them pounded nails—some for the first time ever. Others picked up trash. They’d obviously been studying the project because they knew what they’d be building and some of the history of a 3 sisters garden. We got one bed built and filled and the second bed built with a bit of soil before they had to leave.

Next a big crew of second graders came leaping into the alley. They were DELIGHTED to be helping out. They loved the dirt, they loved the shovels, they loved the pails of dirt, they loved carrying the dirt. They could not get enough of it. “I LOVE doing this" was heard often.They wild with excitement and

Tom had to hustle to keep them dumping the dirt where it was needed. I stayed on the dirt pile making sure that the shovels were not swung too wide by  strong little boys with very short arms and overflowing enthusiasm. Tom made sure that soil was placed in the bed rather than onto the walk.

What a Bunch of Nice Kids!

The struggle to get recycling bins for Environmental Clubs has been largely solved at School 12 by one inspiring teacher. Joe Mazur collected the large plastic pickle barrels from the Paterson Pickle Company. Then he cut a round hole in the lid for cans and bottles. He cut a narrow slot for paper.  For the finishing touch, he laminated a sign that tells just what should go into the barrel.  Don’t they look fine!

Welcome to the City Green Blog!

We're excited about letting you, our fellow gardeners, educators, neighborhood friends and families, know what's going on at our many community and school gardens and to invite you to ask questions and post comments about your garden, school, neighborhood or your own backyard. This time, we'll tell you about who we are and why we think gardening is so important to the community.

City Green has been working in Paterson, New Jersey's neighborhoods, schools, churches and organizations for over five years now and we're bursting with new ideas for next gardening season. Why are we here? And what do we hope to accomplish? First we're dedicated to helping our Paterson neighbors gain access to fresh healthy food. That's why we developed our New Ground Community Garden program and our City Sprouts Youth Garden program.

These photos tell the story of how our kids feel about watching things grow. It's a new experience for so many of them . And how they light up when they crunch into that carrot or cucumber that they put into the ground as a seedling not so long ago!