School or Community Site
Troy Howard Middle School, Belfast – RSU 71
Physical Address
173 Lincolnville Ave
Belfast, Maine 04915
Contact Name
Chantal Brouillard
Email
cbrouillard@rsu71.org
Category
Vegetable and herb Garden, Flowers and ornamentals, Orchard, Greenhouse or hoop house, Composting, Maple Sugaring
When was your garden project started?
2000
What type of facility hosts your garden?
Public School
What programs does your garden project include?
after school club, summer camp, cafeteria connection, classroom connections, internships for rising 9th graders, school cafeteria composting, heirloom seed saving, seed, seedling, and produce sales, community service connections, trail maintenance
Does your garden have a paid coordinator?
Yes
Who volunteers in your garden?
students, teachers, interns, community members, local garden club members, Maine Master Gardener Volunteers
How is your garden project funded?
The THMS Garden Project maintains a district funded, full-time garden coordinator position. We utilizes grants, community partnerships/donors, and are also self-funded through THMS-saved seed sales at the local coop, seedling sales, garlic and produce sales, district cafeteria produce sales, and other student-led fundraising projects.
What community connections do you have?
Belfast Garden Club, Belfast Bay Watershed Coalition, UMaine Cooperative Extension Master Gardener Volunteers, RSU 71 Farm to Sea to School team, and many local businesses.
Who tends the garden when school’s out?
Garden Coordinator position, as well as summer campers, interns, and volunteers.
What are your future goals?
To maintain and update the facilities necessary to continue the legacy of such an amazing garden project!
What is your most significant need?
Updating our outdoor kitchen. This outdoor classroom/kitchen space operates as a kitchen for the Get Growing summer camp, a curing/drying space in the fall for our onions, winter squash, and herbs and “outdoor” enclosed classroom space. It could use some renovations and additions to make it an amazing 3-4 season classroom and learning lab.