Fittingly, the seeds that students at St. Viator School in Las Vegas planted on Ash Wednesday, began producing vegetables as early as Easter Week. They are tangible signs of new life!
Farmer Wendy admires the leafy greens coming in at the St. Viator School garden.
Students planted the seeds in February, before the need to shelter at home.
Today, on Earth Day, even more of these nutritious vegetables are ready to be harvested, reinforcing for students just where food comes from and the importance of sustainable gardening.
Even without students in attendance, Farmer Wendy Wilson — of the urban garden organization, Garden Farms of Nevada — comes every Wednesday to tend the garden plots. Students follow the garden’s progress through their e-learning.
“Watching the garden grow is one of the greatest gifts we can share with our students,” says Ms. Jen Jones, a kindergarten aide at the school. “It’s teaches them firsthand about God’s amazing creation. They have all of their senses working when they visit and learn in the garden they helped to build.”
Already this month, Farmer Wendy has harvested spinach, bok choy, radishes and lettuce. She reports that the corn and potato plants are doing well, and last week she planted more seeds, including herbs, strawberries and flowers. The nutritious produce she has harvested is going to school families in need during this pandemic crisis.
This the third year for the garden project, whose tag line is “Grow with Me!” The garden is supported in part by a grant from the Viatorian Community, which supports the school’s effort in feeding the hungry and caring for God’s creation.