Empty Space To Be Filled With Secret Garden In Summit

SUMMIT, NJ — A new “Secret Garden” inside Summit High School is turning an unused courtyard into a working green space where students will grow plants, connect classroom lessons to real-world science, and contribute produce to a local food bank.

The project was announced Thursday by the Summit Conservancy and transforms the interior courtyard into a visible garden space surrounded by classrooms, giving students a direct view of the growing process throughout the school day.

Students will use the garden as part of coursework in biology, environmental science, ecology, and sustainable agriculture, working directly with plants and seasonal growing cycles instead of only studying them in textbooks. Organizers said some of the vegetables grown will be donated to a local food bank.

The idea for the project came from Summit High School teacher MaKenna Landry, who teaches biology and AP Environmental Science and will oversee how the garden is used for instruction. The project was approved by the Summit Board of Education and is funded by the Summit Conservancy.

“The Secret Garden is exactly the kind of project the Summit Conservancy was created to support,” said David Naidu, president of the organization. “It combines environmental stewardship, education, community engagement, and service in a way that will benefit Summit students and residents for years to come.”

The garden adds to a growing list of Conservancy projects in Summit, including a bike depot near the train station, a tiny forest near the recreation center, and a community freemarket initiative focused on reuse and waste reduction.

The Summit Conservancy is a nonprofit organization focused on environmental and sustainability projects across the city.