Spanning both sides of the road with 16 raised beds, 8 non-raised beds, fruit trees, blueberry bushes, asparagus beds and rows of strawberries, the Gorham Middle School Garden has been a cornerstone of Alternative Education teacher Heather Whitaker’s curriculum since 2007.
Now entering its 22nd growing season, the garden continues to serve as a living classroom where students develop real-world skills while contributing meaningfully to their community. Students in the alternative education classroom pour their hearts into the garden and the results speak for themselves, with 800-1,500 pounds of produce donated to the Gorham Food Pantry each year!
This season finds the garden in the middle of a significant infrastructure project: replacing 16 of the raised garden beds and making much-needed repairs to the deer fencing. Although it is a big lift, it will set the program up for many more seasons of productive growing.
On the research side, last summer brought an unexpected challenge when jumping worms were discovered in the strawberry beds. Rather than letting the bad news dampen spirits, Heather and her students turned it into an engaging deep-dive into invasive species, researching the problem, exploring response strategies, and taking meaningful action. It is exactly the kind of real-world, project-based learning that makes this garden so much more than a place to grow vegetables.
Keeping a school garden thriving through the summer months takes a village and the GMS Garden has built a strong one.
- A SignUpGenius helps coordinate community volunteers who step in during the summer when school is out of session, ensuring the beds stay tended and the pantry donations keep flowing.
- Business partnerships have also become an invaluable part of the equation, with corporate giving days connecting the garden with companies whose employees show up ready to work, bringing both hands and enthusiasm to projects big and small.
- As the July school garden in the 2026 School Garden of the Month Calendar, local businesses such as O’Donals Nursery and Third Street Market have served as local sites for community members to support Maine School Gardens by buying calendars.
- The Gorham Garden Club remains a steadfast supporter as well, with one member, Paula Smeltzer (a Maine Master Gardener) continuing to focus her volunteer efforts right here.
Want to know more?!
- Heather Whitaker: heather.whitaker@gorhamschools.org
- Facebook: facebook.com/GorhamMiddleSchool/
- School Garden of the Month Calendar: msgn.org/fundraisers/calendar-fundraiser/
- MOFGA Gather and Grow: mofga.org/gather-and-grow/
- Gorham Garden Club: facebook.com/gorhammainegardenclub/
- Gorham Food Pantry: google.com/view/gorhamfoodpantry/home
- Maine Master Gardeners: extension.umaine.edu/gardening/master-gardeners/
