SAXONVILLE GARDENS PROPOSAL

Concepts by: Brendan Ryan Foodservice Director- Framingham School District

QUICK HISTORY OF SAXONVILLE

“…Saxonville when the textile industry was established here, one of the early companies being named the ‘Saxon Factory Company’....” -framingham.com

The Saxonville Falls and Dam (1865) The water power at these falls has

been used to drive mill wheels since 1659 when John Stone built his grist mill here. 

The current dam dates back to 1865. f-ramingham.com

WHY “SAXONVILLE”? Saxonville named after

Saxon land development company

This area was claimed as wilderness, booming textile industry, and land development business

With natural resources historic as a success, why not use them?

WHY NOW?MASSACHUSETTS OBESITY Between 25-30 % of the state’s

10-17 year olds are overweight or obese.

Obese children face serious health consequences including: Increased risk of developing

diabetes Asthma Heart disease Depression Low self esteem

WHITE HOUSE EFFORTS: TEACH KIDS, MAKE CHANGES

OTHER EXISTING EFFORTS Farm2School/ Farm to fork

Helps school systems co-operate with local farms and gardens to supply fresh and local foods

Minimizes business to large industrial factories/businesses

Kids know that their lunch is grown, not formulated

“Locally Grown Food Served Here” State pushes food be purchased

local and in season Minimize out-of-season

purchasing! “Fresh is more”

THE SAXONVILLE GARDENS Framingham High School is

equipped with an approximate 2 acre unused interior courtyard void of any maintained vegetation such as trees shrubs, bushes, or existing garden(s)

Use of this location would be ideal to maximize the visual impact of the student body and limit vandalism (enclosed area)

Flourishing Saxonville Gardens will inspire and re-invent the prospering community that first settled here

LAND HO! F.H.S.

Proposed garden space

Proposed area for apple and pear trees

275 Feet

SAXONVILLE GARDEN LAYOUT

Sprinkler head / Water Line

RomaineChopped

String beans

Tomato

TomatoOnions

OnionsCauliflower

Cauliflower

Broccoli

Spinach&Lettuce

Red Pepper

Eggplant

Green Pepper

Broccoli

Cucumbers

Pea Pods

Bostonlettuce

Red RomaineLettuce

Zuch&Squash

Sweet Potato

81

Feet

Tool ShedDoor entrance

Rinse station

Gladiolas

Gladiolas

Gladiolas Gladiolas GladiolasGladiolas

Gladiolas

Gladiolas

5 ft

5 ft 5 ft

Walkway Walkway 3 ft

Door

Door

Sea Grass

-Tulips- Daffodils -Tulips- Daffodills

Parsley Parsley

Dalias

Sunflowers

Basil

Basil

Lemon Thyme Rosemary Oregano

Iris

Dalias

SunflowersOregano Thyme Sage

Iris

Saxonville Gardens Layout 2

MAIN OBJECTIVE Create a completely sustainable and organic

environment so students can be involved, understand agriculture and “real” food

Kids will understand business and value of food as they make profit in selling at farmers markets

A win-win situation:Growth of fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs, and flowers puts excellent use of the landKids will create and continue a legacy of

planting and maintaining an organic farm

DISTRICT INVOLVEMENT: Elementary, middle, and high schools

involved Seedling development will be based on

curriculum in correct applicable grade level

i.e.: grade 2 learns parts of a flower, they spread flower seeds

Each grade from elementary-middle school will focus on an individual food/plant

High School students will participate in planting, maintaining, harvesting, and selling/using foods

HERE’S ONE MORE REASONECONOMIC RECESSION: GARDENING TO CREATE RICHES School garden will bring

funds to support clubs No costs: Crops for the kids, by the

kids Kids will run farmers

market; fresh foods, fast cash

Crops supply a “Harvest Day” @ schools; fresh free food!

USDA ANSWERS OUR QUESTIONS Q: Can the school food service use funds from the

nonprofit school food service account to purchase seeds for a school garden?

A: Yes, with the understanding that the garden is used within the context of the program, i.e. selling the food or providing food in the classroom as part of an educational lesson.

Q: Can the school food service use funds from the nonprofit school food service account to purchase items for the school garden such as fertilizer, watering cans, rakes, etc.?

A: Yes, as long as the items are used for the purpose of starting and maintaining the garden.

Q: Can a school sell food grown in their school garden that was funded using the nonprofit school food service account?

A: Yes, as long as the revenue from the sale of the food accrues back to the nonprofit school food service account. Schools can serve the produce as part of a reimbursable meal or sell it a la carte, to parents, to PTA members, at a roadside stand, etc.

STARTING A SCHOOL GARDENTAKEN FROM HTTP://AGGIE-HORTICULTURE.TAMU.EDU/KINDERGARDEN/CHILD/SCHOOL/STEP.HTM

Step 1- Form a Garden Committee More than a one-man job; form a Garden

Committee Dedicated people to find/train volunteers,

research, plan Look for volunteers among school staff,

parents, and locals Seek help of gardeners/ landscape architects

Next find funds to support garden Seek awards, grants, and donations from

hardware suppliers Garden is permanent and needs year-

round attn

STARTING A SCHOOL GARDENTAKEN FROM HTTP://AGGIE-HORTICULTURE.TAMU.EDU/KINDERGARDEN/CHILD/SCHOOL/STEP.HTM

Step 2: Find Purpose & Objectives for garden

Foods that grow in New England- reinforces

social studies, earth science and geography

Garden becomes a teaching aid to children

Kids will understand agriculture/growing

Rely on constant support in growing season;

trustees from clubs in school & local volunteers

Kids run business in farmers markets

STARTING A SCHOOL GARDENTAKEN FROM HTTP://AGGIE-HORTICULTURE.TAMU.EDU/KINDERGARDEN/CHILD/SCHOOL/STEP.HTM

Step 3: The role of a lead grower

Schedule each lesson plan- when

and what types

Determine which groups of

students will be doing what and

when, then determine how bed

space will be allocated

Chance to schedule specific

activities at specific times or assign

tasks to volunteers

STARTING A SCHOOL GARDENTAKEN FROM HTTP://AGGIE-HORTICULTURE.TAMU.EDU/KINDERGARDEN/CHILD/SCHOOL/STEP.HTM

Step 4: Define a year-round garden

plan Identify what garden will be like while

school is in session Who will keep garden maintained during

school breaks? How should the garden look on the first

day of school? Year-round garden plan will account for

school breaks

STARTING A SCHOOL GARDENTAKEN FROM HTTP://AGGIE-HORTICULTURE.TAMU.EDU/KINDERGARDEN/CHILD/SCHOOL/STEP.HTM

Step 5: Design the gardenNeeds ample sunlightGood drainageClose proximity to waterPlan for constant attention

to garden to keep it up

STARTING A SCHOOL GARDENTAKEN FROM HTTP://AGGIE-HORTICULTURE.TAMU.EDU/KINDERGARDEN/CHILD/SCHOOL/STEP.HTM

Step 6: Build garden according to planTeachers, volunteers, students and

parents pool resourcesBuild the garden: permanent addition

to the school and community.

CURRENT GARDEN COMMITTEE

Volunteered support and advice from:

Sterns Organic Farm, Framingham MA Kathy Huckins & crew

Hansons Farms, Framingham MA Tom, Martha and Matt Hanson

Framingham Community Garden Committee Marion deLaubenfels

Framingham State College Student intern Raquel Vazquez

Framingham Schools Students, staff and clubs