Putting the COMMUNITY into our garden

     On September 27th, I wrote a blog post addressing the issue of true education, which introduced a plan to create a community garden here on Avicenna Academy's campus.  The goal was initially very simple: create a garden to help our students learn valuable lessons while simultaneously giving back to the community where we live and learn.  Since then, we have been working hard to make our dream a reality.  The students have mobilized and our once nebulous plan has been fashioned into something much more solid.  Our students have tested the soil for worms, a variety of nutrients, percolation, pH and particle size.  They have selected plants to act as pest deterrents, chosen vegetable crops based on need (Food Bank of NWI) and desire (student council's Farmer's Market) and designed several layouts that will be considered, to provide a footprint for our many crop plots.  These plans have incorporated the use of rain barrels, elevated beds (whose soil pH will be manipulated contingent upon crop) and have included an area to be used for seating and flowering (non-edible) plants.

     In addition to making plans for the garden itself, we have reached out and created partnerships within the community.  The Food Bank of Northwest Indiana, Grow NWI and the County Line Orchard are all on board with helping us make our dream a reality.  We are still looking for many volunteers and donations to help us on our way.  If you are interested in assisting us in any way, please contact:

Amanda Arceo

ms.arceo.avicenna (at) gmail (dot) com

219.736.7100 (office)

808.292.7030 (mobile)