In the spring of 2009, Healthy Waltham helped assemble a team of students, families, and volunteers to build a garden at Northeast Elementary School. Sheltered from the wind by the school’s walls and the surrounding forest, the garden takes advantage of the full sunlight in its hilltop location. The raised bed has provided bounty as well as beauty, growing tomatoes, basil, and strawberries alongside colorful marigolds and zinnias. Under the cafeteria windows, the gardeners incorporated cucumbers, peppers, and raspberries into the ornamental landscaping. In the spring, the first graders will plant a pumpkin patch that will produce pumpkins by next Halloween!
Growing cucumber