Three of a Kind: P’ville HS Opens District’s Newest Edible Garden
Over the years, Pleasantville’s schools have demonstrated that it’s possible to entice students to eat healthfully and enjoy the food at the same time. Last week that job became easier.
The school district cut the ribbon on an edible garden at the Pleasantville High School athletic field on May 17. It is the third garden district officials, staff, students and community volunteers have built, matching similar efforts at Bedford Road School and Pleasantville Middle School in previous years.
“The children actually have a chance to eat real food, and as we always say, if they grow it, they own it, they’ll eat it,” said Andrea Garbarini, a district parent and one of the community members instrumental in bringing the project to fruition. “They’ll actually eat green things if they grow it.”
The 34-foot by 32-foot garden, surrounded by an eight-foot high wood and wire fence to protect the plantings from wildlife, will have a variety of seasonal crops, said Yaacov Teplow-Phipps, founder of Garden Thyme NY Inc., a Westchester-based horticulture company that designed the garden.
Currently, the beds feature spring and summer crops such as radishes, peas, tomatoes, eggplant and squash, Teplow-Phipps said. He particularly enjoys the radishes because the quick-growing vegetable is able to be planted and harvested within three weeks, perfect for novice gardeners.
“This is instant gratification,” Teplow-Phipps said. “With a first-time gardener, give them something that’ll grow early and enjoy, you can’t fail. My goal is really to help the next generation learn about gardening and landscaping.”
Superintendent Mary Fox-Alter thanked the assortment of community volunteers, faculty and students who worked together to complete the garden before the end of the school year. Fox-Alter, a Pleasantville Rotarian, also recognized the $15,000 donation from Rotary International that helped pay for the project.
The edible gardens, she said, is consistent with the district’s philosophy of creating a community learning experience that also includes subjects such as science, math and economics with life skills, patience and planning.
“And while doing so, it produces a tremendous, terrific benefit–fabulous fresh food that we can use here in our community,” Fox-Alter said.
So far, the project has cost about $11,000, said Juliette Saisselin-Killion, another volunteer instrumental in the effort. Volunteers have also sold bricks and sponsorships for the beds, she said. There are upkeep costs and organizers hope to build an accompanying shed to house equipment, Garbarini said.
Sophomore Alex Goldhorn, one of the founding members of the school’s new Garden Club, said the project wouldn’t have been possible without cooperation from the entire community. Now future Pleasantville High School students will continue to enjoy the same benefits that they’ve enjoyed when they were younger.
“It’s great to see everything come through and now it’s really for the next generation, Bedford Road School and the middle school students, once they get to high school now there’s a garden for them to go to just like the ones they’ve had (before),” Goldhorn said.
Pleasantville resident Doug MacDonald, who attended the ribbon cutting, said he’s been impressed with the commitment not only by the district but by the entire community to promote healthy living and greater sustainability.
“My feeling is with this here a lot of the high school kids can’t ignore it,” MacDonald said.
Martin has more than 30 years experience covering local news in Westchester and Putnam counties, including a frequent focus on zoning and planning issues. He has been editor-in-chief of The Examiner since its inception in 2007. Read more from Martin’s editor-author bio here. Read Martin’s archived work here: https://www.theexaminernews.com/author/martin-wilbur2007/
