RMS Family-Consumer Sciences Students Plant, Harvest, Cook Fresh Produce​

WAYNE, PA – Students taking Family and Consumer Sciences classes at Radnor Middle School have a new source for ingredients in the meals they make in class, as a new garden outside the classroom has been providing them with produce they planted, harvested, and cooked with themselves.

The Family and Consumer Sciences (FaCS) Garden was created by teachers Susan Barnes and Maureen McConnell and made possible through a grant from the school's Parent-Teacher Organization, as well as several student-hosted several fundraisers, the Radnor Township School District said.

"We thought establishing a school garden would be a perfect way to introduce the Farm-to-Table concept to our students," McConnell said.

Students planted peppers, eggplants and tomatoes in the spring, according to the district.

Students harvest the garden at least twice a week during the school year.

Radnor Middle School's life skills students also take an active role in planting, weeding and watering the crops.

The vegetables will be used in recipes during FaCS classes and leftover items will be frozen for use later in the year.

"We have been harvesting the vegetables that began growing since the spring, and they look delicious," McConnell said.

The space currently features three raised 10-by-4-foot garden beds designed by Technology Education teacher Chris Kelly and built and installed by Radnor Middle School students, the district said.

Weather-proof Burpee Seed art renderings created by Art Club students hang on the wall outside.

McConnell and Barnes hope to add three more garden beds and a set of ladder-like gutter gardens for greens by the end of the year, according to the district. The extra space will be used to grow lettuce, beets, carrots, pumpkins, beans and corn, the district said.

"It's our very own private, secret garden," McConnell said. "We hope the garden will truly become a school community project and incorporate more academic disciplines at RMS."

Pictured at top are RMS students Cooper Roy, Malayla Boigg, Sophie Driscoll, Ibrahim Ahmed Ibrahim, Patrick Maggiti, Anjali Engstrom, Lucy Minning, Audrey Niedland and Max Gilbert working in the RMS Family and Consumer Science garden

Images via Radnor Township School District