Country Day’s garden, planted in 2007, now produces an assortment of flowers, fruits, and vegetables. And Doug Wallis, who teaches the middle-school garden elective, is excited. “It’s amazing that we’re growing what we’re growing out there,” he said.”

WHAT’S GROWING Lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower, beans, carrots, celery, tomatoes, chard, onions and garlic are thriving. So far, the fruit includes apples, pears, plums, oranges, olives, pistachios, almonds, pomegranates, strawberries and grapes. Herbs have included sage, cilantro, rosemary, peppermint, yarrow and basil. 

WHY GARDENS ARE UNPREDICTABLE Spring vegetables need to be planted right after the last winter frost, Wallis said. If they’re planted too early and another frost comes along, they freeze. But if he waits too long to plant, it might be too late in the season.  “It’s a gamble,” Wallis said.

THE IMPORTANCE OF COMPOST Last year the garden classes spent most of their time turning compost. Compost multiplies microbes, which are nutrition for plants. “We take worthless dirt that has sleeping microbes and wake them up, providing [the plants] with a banquet,” Wallis said.

STAYING ORGANIC Last year the middle-school debate class argued the pros and cons of using pesticides in the  garden.  The middle school then voted by a ratio of 2-1 to keep the garden organic. The class pulls some weeds, and Wallis kills the rest by laying straw on top of them.

THE BIGGEST PROBLEM Because of the garden’s location under the telephone wires, no building can be permanent. Last year wind destroyed the non-stable greenhouse.

THE “CHICKEN TRACTOR” Chickens hatched by the Pre-K were put into a big metal cage last year. They scratched up the ground, ate bugs, and defecated, all of which benefited the garden. “Chicken manure is really good fertilizer because there is a lot of nitrogen,” Wallis said. Current junior Sadie Brown took the chickens home on weekends and during school breaks. Although the chickens were adopted last summer, Wallis hopes to buy new ones.

QUOTE “I get the kids out there and they really get it. It’s neat to see the kids having a ball doing this manual labor,” said Doug Wallis.