Lessons from the Garden

"Students don't understand where our food comes from" says Glen Herman, a member of our science faculty and our greenhouse conservator. To rectify this situation, Mr. Herman has made good use of a small garden plot next to Stone Hall, where he has planted a variety of vegetables and flowers.



On a splendid Friday afternoon, the 1st grade joined Mr. Herman to examine the garden and each student was invited to take a piece of basil or a tomato home with them. On his tour, he also pointed out some of the fundamentals of a garden ecosystem, including the interplay between male and female flowers, the role that pollination plays in whether a plant yields fruit, and the purpose of corn silk (each piece of silk transports first pollen, then water to an individual kernel of corn).


The garden, like so many facets of our campus, is a practical, outdoor classroom that we employ to make lessons relevant to students.

If Mr. Herman has his way, the next generation of Park students will know exactly where their food comes from.