This spring, Rippling Waters Farm in Standish, with a generous donation from Wild Oats and assistance from local master gardeners, built nine raised beds for Steep Falls Elementary School, filled them with soil, then provided seed potatoes, lettuce, spinach, broccoli, and a variety of other vegetables and herbs for the students to plant.

At the end of the growing season, the gardens proved to be a success. In September, students and staff were treated to a basil pesto snack, followed a few weeks later by a sampling of roasted potatoes (side dish featured during school lunch) made with potatoes from the gardens.

The school also had a school-wide contest whereby the students and staff estimated the number of potatoes harvested, which was used as a math activity.

In October, students enjoyed lettuce roll-up snacks. Each student was offered a leaf of lettuce on which they placed diced apples, cheddar cheese and a mustard maple syrup dressing. Kids were encouraged to take a polite “no thank you bite” and the majority said “Thank you!” Some even requested second helpings. Most of the remaining lettuce and spinach were offered in a salad served as part of a school lunch and a dozen heads of lettuce were then donated to a food pantry.