St. Anthony of Padua Catholic School

Our Garden of Eat-Um has evolved from a vision to reality, providing food for our school cafeteria, local food pantry, and a school fundraiser, in addition to countless learning opportunities. The Garden has bloomed via donations, volunteerism, community support, and sweat equity. We began with 15 raised beds, and have more than doubled those. We also have a 35-by-35-foot St. Peter's Plot for potatoes, carrots, onions, and rutabagas for a school fundraiser and use in our school cafeteria, a large community herb garden, and a new community bed for asparagus and rhubarb.

Motivation for starting the garden included educating our students about the value and importance of producing fresh, healthy vegetables for our families, our school cafeteria, and our local food pantry. Our garden also offers others in the community an opportunity to raise fresh vegetables for their own use and to encourage others to plant gardens of their own.

We hope to add a handicap-accessible raised bed, with paved access. Future plans also call for an outdoor classroom pavilion, on-site composting, an off-site community compost site, and a greenhouse. A Whole Kids Foundation grant would help us greatly to these ends.