Northville High School Students Get Hands-On Experience in the Sciences

If you stop by to this summer, you may spot a few students and alumni working in the garden, listening to Detroit Tigers games.

They're likely to be the former students of NHS science teacher Scott Szukaitis, who has used the garden as part of his classes at the high school.

"They have enjoyed themselves out here. I'm surprised at how much," he said. "I generally get about three kids per year who end up starting their own garden. The kids look forward to it."

Szukaitis said he hopes the time getting their hands dirty in the garden gives the students get a better sense of where their food comes from. Students in his classes also work with the animals, which helps gets them ready for human interaction in Maybury's farmhouse where visitors see them daily. They also help gather eggs from the chickens in coops.

Shari Peters, president of the Northville Community Foundation which runs the farm, said it's a mutually beneficial arrangement.

"I'm sure (the students) will bring their families back. They'll go on to college. A lot of them are studying agriculture." she said. "They'll never forget the farm and they'll be back in another way."

The produce planted by the students will also be for sale at Maybury Farm, which has extended hours during the summer. It is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., according to its website. It's closed Mondays.