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Massena High School, Jefferson Elementary students reap harvest from gardens

Posted 10/17/14

Jefferson fourth grade teacher Diane Toth assists students harvesting the tomatoes and peppers. Front, Toth, Andrew LaMora, Brahm De Coning, Adyson Bergeron, Noah Trombly, Katelyn Deragon, Camdyn …

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Massena High School, Jefferson Elementary students reap harvest from gardens

Posted

Jefferson fourth grade teacher Diane Toth assists students harvesting the tomatoes and peppers. Front, Toth, Andrew LaMora, Brahm De Coning, Adyson Bergeron, Noah Trombly, Katelyn Deragon, Camdyn Farmer and Isaac Donahue. Back, Destiny LaShomb and Alorha Shantie. Photo provided by Massena Central School District.

By ANDY GARDNER

MASSENA -- A garden project at Jefferson Elementary and the high school was successful and will continue this year, Jefferson principal Duane Richards told the Board of Education on Thursday.

"It taught them responsibility and camaraderie," Richards told the board. He discussed the garden project at the board's request during a prior monthly meeting.

He said for the Jefferson garden, last year's fourth graders planted it. This year's fourth graders, assisted by kindergartners, harvested and the now-fifth graders made some of the veggies into salsa. Others were given to parents at curriculum night.

"It was a successful garden at Jefferson. It was well cared for," Richards said, adding that three teachers tended to it over the summer.

At the high school, the students grew zucchini, carrots, strawberries, cucumbers, azalias and marigolds. Jane Portolese of the Massena Garden Club taught the students how to harvest seeds from the plants and transplant seedlings.

The gardens were made with supplies and time donated by parents, teachers, a local business, citizens and a corporation.

High school donations:

• Liberty Partnership budget – weed mesh, mulch, bedding plants, potting soil, manure, perlite, seed starter and peat pots worth $100

• David Doe – stipends for 2 summer garden workers, $200

• Northrup’s Hillside Nursery – 3 cubic yards of topsoil worth $150

• Home Depot (corporate) – lumber for one 4-foot-by-12-foot raised bed worth $100

• Teresa Doe – seeds for peas, zucchini, basil, dill, carrots, tomatoes and cilantro worth $30

Jefferson Elementary donations:

• Mike Hewlett - topsoil worth $40

• Friends of Jefferson Parent Group - soil, seeds, cups, trays and garden hose worth $80

• Barb Hewlett, Diane Toth and Paula Henry (Jefferson teachers) - Trays, seeds, cups and soil worth $40

• Matthew Rourke - Four pinewood rough-cut raised beds measuring 2-feet-by-8-feet

Jefferson students making salsa, Felicity Engstrom, EliJose Araujo, Natalie Currier, Ella Oakes and Lilah Daniell. Photo provided by Massena Central School District.