Category: gardens

Westlake School

Westfield

Plant, Pick, Share: Students Bringing Joy from the Garden

Today our students experienced the full joy of learning from the garden! With care and excitement, they picked fresh flowers and fragrant basil that they helped grow. This activity gave them the opportunity to practice responsibility, patience, and teamwork while connecting their hard work to a meaningful purpose.

The flowers were carefully gathered to be shared with a local nursing home, spreading smiles and kindness to members of our community. The basil was harvested to be used in our cooking activity, where students created delicious mozzarella, tomato, and basil appetizers. Seeing the garden turn into something that could be given and enjoyed made the experience even more powerful.

Through this hands-on activity, students practiced important life skills such as following directions, handling materials gently, identifying plants, and understanding where food comes from. They also strengthened communication skills by making choices, labeling items, and working together toward a shared goal.

This was a beautiful example of how our garden supports independence, confidence, and community connection. From planting to picking to sharing, our students truly showed that small actions can grow into something meaningful.

Morris Union Jointure Commission

New Providence

Still Enjoying the Sensory Garden

The sensory garden is still a major hit! Students love getting hands-on with the rosemary, which has become a go-to for a quick stress reliever.

Morris -Union Jointure Commission

New Providence

Still Enjoying the Sensory Garden

The air might be crisp, but our sensory garden is still full of life! ❄️🌿 Even with the cold weather, students are enjoying the fresh air and the sights and smells of the season. The rosemary is still in full bloom, adding a beautiful scent to these chilly days.

Washington Elementary School

Roselle

Victory!

My last post detailed the saga of a good-hearted boy and a tiny apple tree. I’m happy to report that little seedling is in the ground where it belongs. A little late, I know, but I’m a believer.

To summarize, a student of mine grew an apple tree sapling, 3 inches tall. The plan was to put the plant somewhere safe for the winter and plant it in the spring, but research indicated that it is possible to just plant it with a little protection for the winter, and it will have a head start in the spring. I had hoped to get it in the ground by 12/1, but we didn’t end up getting it planted until 12/8.

All the same, I think the odds are with us. If it’s alive now, I’m betting that it will stay that way. I have welding skills, so I made a cage to protect our sapling and pounded 10” stakes in to secure it. Now that the ground is frozen, the cage is very strong. I call that a win. So, wish us luck, I will keep you informed. Just know that I’ll be starting another sapling from seed under a grow lamp in February, just in case we need to pull a switch in April! Happy Holidays to all!

Neighborhood House Association School

Plainfield

November Garden Pictures

The garden growing season is almost over for this year. However, there were a few plants that survived the weather.

Morris Union Jointure Commission

New Providence

Resilient Garden

Student enjoying the Climate Resilient Sensory Garden. While on the playground, the student walked over to the garden to smell the rosemary and said “yum”.

Washington Elementary School

Roselle

Hope Still Springs Eternal

I have a student in my ESL program who has made leaps and bounds in the 1.5 years I’ve known him. A Haitian boy who has probably seen and experienced unpleasantries that would shock the rest of us. We would see each other every day, and he knew that I am involved in the garden at school. One day after lunch he comes to me with 3 seeds from his apple, so I said “Cool, let’s go put these in the dirt”. I didn’t think much of it until 2 weeks later when he came to me jumping up and down and dragged me outside to see that there was a 3” sapling coming out of the ground where we put the seed.

He was beyond excited, but somewhere along the way some mischievous fingers may have uprooted the young tree, and the first attempt was for naught. He was crushed. So, we tried again. It was June and school was almost over, so I gave him a planting pot with soil, he saved the apple seeds, and we planted them again, this time knowing that he was going to take the pot home and nourish the seeds and any saplings until September when I would see him again.

Fast Forward to September, and I was afraid to ask, not knowing how much help he had at home, and not wanting to put pressure on the subject. All this time we didn’t talk about it, until the beginning of November, he showed up with the pot, and there was a sapling growing there! Imagine my surprise! I call that a win. So now, the mission is to keep it alive all winter and plant it in front of the school in the Spring. You never know where and how the difference will be made. You never know how things will turn out, and in that I see a compelling argument for optimism.

Union Community Garden

Union

Spring Garden Build

Union Community Garden

Union

Donations for Summer 200lbs+

We have had a truly generous gardener group this year with consistent donations to the Senior Center and the Township of Union. Here are some pictures:

Union Community Garden

Union

Fall Harvest Picnic 2025

We had a great year! 12 new members and a full garden – no beds left to rent! This was our Fall Celebration.