Trenton Grows Educational Garden
Installation design; urban agrarian design
Trenton, NJ
Collaborators: Trenton Grows Inc., Victoria Covert
Client: International Academy of Trenton Charter School
Status: Completed Spring 2018
The organization established a “Garden Club” for first- through fifth-grade students at an underperforming charter school in Trenton, New Jersey. We held twice-weekly meetings with approximately 25 to 30 student volunteers between the ages of six and 12. With the help of the students, we designed and built a small, temporary educational garden on the school’s grounds using mostly recycled materials. Through this hands-on process, we introduced the students to every phase of the organic gardening process, from seed to harvest. It was a joy to mentor these amazing and enthusiastic students, and on the final day of Garden Club to feast on our harvest with them and their families, sending each family home with remaining plants and produce.
Germinating seeds during our first Trenton Grows “garden club” meeting
The existing site (pre-garden), across the street from the pickup/drop-off entrance of the school
A linear snake (with semicircular gathering space) of recycled tires spray-painted light colors to decrease thermal absorption from solar exposure; topsoil delivery in background; fertilizer bin not pictured
“Garden club” participants fill the tire planters with topsoil and fertilizer…
Planting non-edible flower seeds and seedlings
Leftover tires used for play; canvas planter bags on perforated tarp-covered shipping pallets…
Filled with topsoil and fertilizer…
Planting and watering edible fruit and vegetable seedlings
Weeding, watering, taking care of our garden, and playing hopscotch
Celebrating our successful harvest with friends and family
A participant marvels at the “magic” that came from a simple handful of seeds, placed in soil, with plenty of water and sun
Saying goodbye, and sending participants home with the fruits of their labor
The school closed permanently at the end of the 2017-’18 academic year
