My name is Joy Sodon and I have been a Girl Scout since I was five years old and have loved every minute of it. In past years, I have earned both the Bronze and Silver awards for Community Service Projects. When I heard that Manchester High School wanted to create a few school gardens, I knew exactly what I should do for my Gold Award Project. The demand for the gardens do not come from an aesthetic need, but as an educational tool. Within the school, the gardens have the potential to be utilized by a variety of classes: foods classes, special education classes, environmental classes, science classes, as well as many others. A garden can be a lab, a reading area, a classroom, a therapy location, and a resource for school clubs. After much consideration, I decided that a vegetable garden would be the most advantageous as produce could not only be used in foods classes, but also potentially be donated to local food banks. So I initiated the project with approval from both the High School and the Girl Scouts Council in the spring of 2016. A lot of research was put into deciding what to grow and how to deal with the issue of water, as the High School was unsure of whether there would be access to water. This problem was alleviated by building rain barrels, but the garden was later moved to a location with access to water. So, I reevaluated and found that a timer connected to a drip line would be best solution for watering the garden. After consulting with Mr. Mike Labelson from the Ocean County Master Gardeners Rutgers Extension, I was sure of what plants would best fit the location and needs of the community. I also received a generous donation of fertilizer thanks to Mr. Scott Rosin and Mr. Peter Kusion from Oceangrow. I used the money I had earned through Girl Scout Nut/ Candy and Cookie Sales to pay for my plants and supplies. During planting, I was graciously helped by some of my fellow peers , thanks to Mr. Schaefer. Currently, the garden is in the middle stages of growth and is producing vegetables and herbs that will be donated. I'm excited to see how the garden progresses with the plans for the school to add more in the future. I want to thank Mrs. Ferrara, Mr. Adams, and Mr. Hansen for their help and guidance on this project, as well as Mr. James Sodon for helping with construction and Landscaping, and Mrs. Joann Sodon for help and encouragement along the way. Whether it remains as a vegetable garden or transforms into a flower garden, I know it will only have a positive effect on the school’s environment.
