Growing Food and Community in the TA Garden
August 25, 2024
TA recently concluded this summer’s “Tuesdays in the TA Garden,” a series of volunteer work parties designed to grow both food and community in the school garden. Each week since July 9, Thetford Academy’s garden coordinator Ehrin Lingeman and her student interns have welcomed TA families and community members into the garden to support the busy growing season.
Over the course of eight weeks, many volunteers came together to grow the food that students will soon enjoy in Thetford Academy’s culinary arts classes and café. Volunteers were well-supported by the garden program’s three student interns, Audrey (Wolfie) Dowell ’24, Ramona Spelman ’25, and Stella Girdwood ’27. Ehrin shared that “each of the interns brought enthusiasm and determination to every task they were assigned, whether it was mulching endless pathways or tackling the relentless weeds.”
The interns also worked with Ehrin to learn and implement strategies that will help TA to adapt to and mitigate climate change challenges in our garden, changes like the intense rain events that have plagued Vermont in the last few years. They learned about mulching, cover cropping, no-till practices, and more, skills they can carry with them into leadership roles in the sustainable agriculture movement.
Our community volunteers, too, were integral to the success of TA’s garden this year, contributing more than 35 volunteer work hours over the course of the summer. The volunteers included students, their families, and community members who came to the garden get outside and make a meaningful contribution to their community.
TA hopes to continue cultivating this spirit of togetherness with more opportunities for community members to work in the garden, putting their hands in the soil, growing delicious food, and appreciating our natural world. In the meantime, look out for an upcoming Saturday work party to ‘put the garden to bed’ later this fall. Volunteers will be invited to help plant our cover crops and garlic, turn the compost, and celebrate in the bounty of another bountiful summer in the TA garden. Stay tuned!
