Lee County schools expand garden program to 14 schools

Reporter: Annette Montgomery
Published: Updated:

The Lee County School District is expanding its farm-to-school garden program to 14 schools.

This initiative is not only a learning tool but also provides fresh ingredients for cafeteria meals.

Max Rivas is a student at Paul Dunbar Middle School. He said the program was helpful.

“It showed me new ways how to garden, ways you can eat foods, eat them right off the plant. Ways like the hydroponic system, I don’t know about that till we started growing it,” said Rivas.

Agriculture teacher Kelsey Silsby at Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle School highlighted the hands-on experience.

“Whether it’s fixing an irrigation line that might have broken, or pruning to make pruning anything harvesting. But we try to come out about two times a week more, if possible,” said Silsby.

The district aims to harvest 13,500 pounds of produce from these gardens this year.

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