Spring in the Garden: Food Policy, Berry Trellising, New Sign, and Michaelann Henderson Talks Strawberries

It’s been a whirlwind month in the Thurgood Marshall Academy Garden: Karen Lee’s Government classes finished up their unit on food policy by exploring the politics of food, and then took the first step to food independence by planting onions, potatoes, peas, beans, kale, and arugula in our raised beds (and taking some cute pictures!):

Government teacher Karen Lee with seniors Tiona Rollerson and Vernee Lightfoot.

Sam Ullery, The School Garden Specialist for the DC Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE), stopped by to help us tame our berry patch: 

Kate Lee, Sam Ullery, Kali Boehle-Silva, and the berry patch!

Art teacher Nafeesah Shabazz and the members of Thurgood Marshall Academy’s Art Club put up a wire garden sign that’s now gracing the fence across from the Anacostia Metro:

Art Teacher Nafeesah Shabazz and Darylquisha Hill, Art Club member, in front of the new sign!

And we’re just starting to harvest our kale, collards, lettuce, radishes, and (a student and staff favorite) strawberries! 


Guest blogger and Green Club Vice President Michaelann Henderson stopped by the Programs Office to muse on the TMA garden and the fast- ripening strawberries:

The garden teaches us the importance of knowing where our food comes from and what goes into making fruits and vegetables. Being able to grow our own food is fun and it teaches us how our bodies and minds react to fresh food. In Green Club we learn proper garden etiquette and how to grow and manage our own gardens. We learn about how different foods affect our bodies, nutritional facts, and why buying locally grown foods are better for ourselves and the economy. Gardening teaches us how to choose food at the grocery store that doesn’t just taste good, but is also healthy for us!

The strawberries in the garden are fresh and sweet, beautiful and bright red. It’s always exciting to see the finished product after planting and watering seeds to make a food… I love our strawberries and can’t wait to see what we make with them in our next Green Club meeting!