Earlier this school year, over 50 students, parents, Master Gardeners and school staff, including Principal Jeffrey Diulio gathered after school in the school garden to watch Chef Sean Stewart cook three delicious fall soups: pumpkin, Green Goddess, and Acqua Cotta (“Cooked Water”). UC Master Gardener Eva Mayer said, “Presentation was gorgeous, it looked as good as it all tasted! The pumpkin soup had a crème fraîche swirl and pumpkin seeds on top - sorry I didn't take a photo before eating it." With Eva's guidance, garden club youth transplanted cardinal vines seedlings, which hummingbirds love, and sold them for 25 cents each. Chef Sean's 6th grader sold flowers grown in her home garden to raise money for future cooking demonstrations in the garden. Her flower arrangements and sales brought in $34.00! Youth garden club members were very pleased to try the fall soups with toasted French baguette and even purchased seedlings to support their own school garden.
CFHL,UC and UC Master Gardeners partnership has introduced youth, parents and staff to gardening, cooking skills and trying new vegetables such as spinach, kale, and pumpkin grown in the school garden. CFHL,UC has seen an increase in garden club participation from just 3-5 students on Friday mornings before school to groups of 10-15 twice a week.
Arizona Middle School, CFHL,UC and Master Gardeners are especially grateful for parent champions, Raquel and Sean, for recently submitting a garden grant and for donating their time, talent and for generously providing so much to the Arizona Middle School Garden.
