Lake Avenue Garden Project

 The Lake Avenue Garden Project began in 2008 to teach kids at how to grow food, and cook and eat bravely. We operate on a simple philosophy: that growing food and cooking with friends makes kids more open to new ingredients and teaches them skills to be a healthy eater. Plus, it is a fun learning experience to grow a garden and harvest the food you’ve planted.

We are an after-school club operating at Lake Avenue Elementary School, in Saratoga Springs NY. The school site is in the center of the city - our grounds are small and the garden itself is located right in front of the school. Founder Carol Maxwell began this club four years ago, with a small garden and a group of about 10 students. Since then, we have tripled the size of the garden. and 25 - 35 students participate each semester. We operate nearly year round, taking a short hiatus in January and February, when the garden is frozen and usually covered in snow. We grow many types of vegetables and fruits. In 2012, we grew corn, pole beans, bush beans, cantaloupe, watermelon, squash, pumpkins, chard, kale, brussels sprouts, peas, beets, potatoes, patty pan squash, alpine strawberries, raspberries, spinach, lettuce, oregano, basil, garlic, tomatillos, husk cherries, celery, carrots, tomatoes, dill, fennel, broccoli, and probably a few other things we've forgotten to mention.