Over the summer, co-advisors Annika Putney and Lina Scoma, longtime Persell teachers, welcomed students and families to the garden two days a week for approximately an hour-and-a-half. Together, the volunteers helped harvest produce, pull weeds, and also turned their attention to some of the large planters around the school thanks to the help of the Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy.

“Carol Markham, a conservationist from the Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy, attended garden club a couple times during the school year to show our students native plants, discuss the difference between native and invasive plants, and to discuss the benefits of pollinators for a garden,” noted Scoma.

“She talked with the students about native plants and the benefits of pollinators and asked the kids what color flowers they would like to see in the planters,” noted Putney.

The result: coneflowers, black-eyed susans, and butterfly weed were added to the planters with Markham’s assistance.

The Persell Middle School Garden Club had its most successful summer yet, thanks to the dedication of students, families, and staff who kept the garden flourishing.

Back at the “produce patch,” new soil and compost paired with ideal weather conditions helped yield one of the best harvests the club has ever had.

“This was our best harvest year yet!” Scoma said. “Collaborative Children’s Solutions donated soil and mushroom compost to our garden. We had plentiful harvests of lettuce, carrots, and radishes due to the colder start to spring. We also harvested the most green beans we’ve ever had. Finally, we are noticing our strawberry plants are producing fall strawberries! This has never happened before.”

“We had more zucchini (over 40) and tomatoes (that are still turning red) than we knew what to do with! We also have harvested mini honeydew and mini canteloupe, which have been very, very sweet! This fall we still have many varieties of vegetables for the students to take home.”

Working out in the soil remains a labor of love for the two advisors, who relish the opportunity to help students see the literal fruits of their labor.

“Many students don’t know that the majority of what we plant will produce a flower and from the flower will produce a fruit,” Scoma said. “When they can see that happen right in front of them and then get the chance to eat the fruit, it’s really exciting!”

Putney also loves when the students are exposed to new foods.

“This year many tried radishes and ground cherries for the first time ever in their lives — mixed reviews on whether or not they liked them, but at least they tried!” she said. “I also love the pride the students have when they take home veggies that they grew and picked. They are proud of themselves and it really is priceless!”

Most of all, they hope to impress upon the students the ease with which they can produce their own food.

“The biggest takeaway – it’s easy to grow healthy, nutritious foods!” Putney said. “We hope they can see this is a skill they can take to the future. So many get excited to tell us about what they grow at home after they’ve been at Garden Club.”