Fryeburg Academy is a private boarding and day school serving grades 9-12 plus a Post-Graduate year located in a classic New England village nestled in the foothills of the White Mountains. Walking down to the garden area from Fryeburg Academy, the difference between a traditional school garden program and the Academy’s agricultural program becomes clear: there are no raised beds and there is no greenhouse; instead, an expanse of field is tilled in long rows carefully measured by students of Jennifer Solter-Jones, the New England Agriculture teacher, dotted by elevated rainwater barrels used as irrigation.
Placing emphasis on hands-on lessons, labs, and group research, classes in the garden (like the New England Agriculture class) interweave scientific concepts and practical knowledge. Agricultural and garden projects are chosen by both students and staff, creating space for content that is applicable to student interest in the exploration of traditional, regional, and industrial agricultural methods. This exploration often leads to relevant and important inquiries about energy, sustainability and climate change, as well as technology, genetic modification, systems theory and economics.
The informal setting of the garden allows students to more personally experience the connections between what we grow and eat while developing an understanding of scientific principles and agricultural practices that will enable them to analyze and communicate the fundamentals and importance of agriculture in a society where the consumer is increasingly separated from the cultivation of food.
The garden also provides the school with as much produce as possible; this year students were able to supply 367 lbs of vegetables from the school garden to the Fryeburg Academy food services and food pantry.
Funding is largely provided by the district and the school; dedicated teachers, like Jen Solter-Jones and program director Dylan Harry, maintain the garden during the school year and throughout the summer with the help of some students and volunteers.
Plans for the future include water access, building a greenhouse to extend the growing season and funding for a paid school garden coordinator.
For more information, contact: Jen Solter Jones at jsolterjones@fryeburgacademy.org
