Objective 2.4 Habitat Restoration - DHHS Community Garden
In 2013, our school took part in the City Schools Sustainability Challenge Project. This resulted in our school breaking ground and held a garden build on Saturday, June 1, 2013 from 9am until 3 pm. In sweltering ninety degree heat, approximately fifty volunteers including high school students from Digital Harbor High School (DHHS), Domino Sugar and neighbors from Federal Hill and Federal Hill South came with determination, to start and complete the build out of the Digital Harbor High School Community Garden.
This garden serves students at the school by providing them with a space to use as a living outdoor classroom. Teachers at the school incorporate the garden space into STEM curriculum and students are able to directly use the science and math concepts they are learning in engaging hands on projects.
Over 1,200 students attend Digital harbor High School. Students use the garden to learn about healthy eating, local food sources, and are able to develop a practical skill set of knowing how to grow their own food. They feel connected to their environment, their school, their community and can directly see how their actions and choices have an impact on the world.
The neighbors and the business community surrounding Digital Harbor also benefit from this garden. The community participated in the garden build day (as seen in the videos) and helped maintain the garden throughout the summer months. Community members are frequently invited to events in the garden. Here is an announcement for a Fall cleanup day- http://www.federalhillsouth.org/announcements/digitalharborhscommunitygardenfallclean-upwinterization-saturdaynovember2 We also will be working with the Federal Hill Neighborhood Association members. Our garden wouldn't be around if it were not for the work and efforts of our community members. Jessica Damen spearheads getting volunteers to water the garden during non-school time hours. She often posts in the Federal Hill Neighborhood association page for getting volunteers. Our school also maintains a Facebook group- Digital Harbor HS/ Community Garden
The community has been able to use the garden space to develop relationships with the students and invest in the students futures. This garden space has allowed them to feel more connected to the entire student body and has created an opportunity for them to share their skills and abilities with future generations. The garden also serves the community by creating a space where community members can also learn about healthy eating, locally grown food and as a source of produce that is shared.
|
Students create and maintain raised beds for the garden to plant food for the community and school.Students assisted the community members in creating raised beds for the garden, and continue to upkeep them. In the spring, the students and the community plant tomatoes, beans, lettuce, pumpkin, and other plants that can be eaten throughout the school year and summer.
|
Students maintain and use the schoolyard habitat
Before winter, the students and the community work together to clean the beds and winterize the garden to prepare for the following growing season. We will also have a planting and preparation for this upcoming growing season.
|
|
LocationDigital Harbor High School Garden
1100 Covington St. Baltimore MD |
Digital Harbor High School Community Garden Page on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/506571579397426/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/506571579397426/
DHHS Garden 2016-2017
We have had several new and exciting additions to the DHHS community garden during the 2016-2017 school year. Students and community members worked hard to add drip irrigation to the raised beds to conserve water, a potting bench and a bulletin board complete with solar power was added. See below:
We have had several new and exciting additions to the DHHS community garden during the 2016-2017 school year. Students and community members worked hard to add drip irrigation to the raised beds to conserve water, a potting bench and a bulletin board complete with solar power was added. See below: