Madison922web

Reap What
You Sow
Lynne Schneider
At Ridgeland High School, in the 2021-22 school year, students
in teacher Gabrielle Mills’ science classes learned, literally, that you
reap what you sow. These students have been part of a program
supported by a team of community supporters in planning, building,
and growing the school’s Titan Garden. The garden is a long-term
project, but Mills and her students have accomplished much in its
inaugural year.
Mills said she began to work on a plan for the garden in the
spring semester of 2021. She collaborated with a fellow botany
teacher at another school who had successfully created a school
garden program, then planted a garden at her home to experiment
and create the best plan. She then collaborated with other teachers
at RHS, including Chef Levi Williams, one of the instructors in the
culinary academy at the school, to develop a 5-year vision for the
Titan Garden/Homestead Initiative at RHS.
“We envision an outdoor classroom, with garden plots for not
only vegetables but flowers, small animal pens, portable and
stationary student workstations, and a lecture arena.” Mills added
that including animals and teaching about animal husbandry in the
future will expand student learning and opportunity.
Other departments at the school, such as science, engineering
academy, culinary academy, and even the art, history, and science
departments will be involved in future years, as the program and
the garden grow.
In its first year, The Titan Garden has developed and grown quickly,
but will be in a constant state of growth and transition, Mills said.
“The Titan Garden will always be in a state of transition as a
‘work in progress’ because it changes with the seasons.”
Ridgeland Public Works Director Mike McCollum helped Mills,
and her students selected the best planting location and the best
crops to plant for the fall semester, which included crops for culinary
students. Allen and MeMe Martison, owners of Garden Works in
Ridgeland, donated the soil required to build the garden beds.
They also offered planting advice and suggested that flowers could
be grown to increase the value and beauty of the garden for all
students, offer another crop, and even help vegetables by naturally
reducing the growth of weeds. Other supporters included Assistant
Superintendent Ted Poore, the RHS PTO, Keep Ridgeland Beautiful,
and RHS Parent of the Year Jan Richardson, who helped spearhead
the project and brought in district and community supporters.
Mills believes that the Titan Garden will give students more than
just knowledge about gardening and farming.
“Our students are immersed in a culture of instant gratification,”
she said. “They will literally be able to see the ‘fruits of their labor’
as they meet goals over an extended period.
Students who have been able to work in the garden in its first
year have enjoyed this unorthodox method of learning and are
proud to be part of the development of the garden project.
“I’m excited to leave the Titan Garden legacy to my younger
brothers from the Class of 2025 and 2029,” said Lizzie Hood, a
student in Mills’ Zoology II class.
Hometown MADISON • 67