Just in time for growing season, Ridgefield High School will have its very own vegetable garden.

RHS biology teacher Peter Nichols has spearheaded this project and even spent his spring vacation digging and hoeing the 5 beds of this 1100 square foot garden. When asked about the benefits of a school vegetable garden, Mr. Nichols felt that "Students often internalize what they learn better when he or she experiences it rather than they simply read about it. This garden will give students the chance for a lot of hands on experience growing vegetables as they learn why some grew and others did not."

Born and raised in Ridgefield and well versed in its farming history, Mr. Nichols added, "I hope gardening will become a lifelong experience for my students." Located just outside the student center near the  outdoor basketball courts, it is enclosed by a sturdy fence to protect the eventual bounty from the deer and other hungry critters.

The garden is being funded by Ridgefield Green Village Initiative—a new grassroots environmental group in town focused on sustainable community building projects focusing on local food as well as other green initiatives.  RGVI is working with SRMS and ERMS in expanding and developing their own edible gardens and has provided compost barrels to Nichols' class at the high school as well. 

Continuing its focus on the importance of local food, RGVI will be co-sponsoring a film and lecture series on Sustainable Food at the Ridgefield Library beginning May 19.  For more information on this and other projects RGVI is working on, please visit our website, www.ridgefieldgvi.org.