It Takes a Village to Grow a Garden - PCMS Celebrates Harvest

Port Chester Middle School students passed around homemade hors d’ouvres like kale wraps with goat cheese and watermelon salsa made from plants they helped to grow in the school’s Giving Garden Monday afternoon.

“It is a lot of hard work and it takes time but in the end it pays off because it is healthy eating but it is all very delicious,” said eighth grader Dayron Hernandez.

The reception was a celebration of a successful harvest where school and Open Door representatives thanked the many community members involved in the project.

PCMS and Open Door Family Medical Center partnered on the Giving Garden project, which, in addition to growing more than 1,000 pounds of food to donate to the Carver Center and Don Bosco, came in second place in a national hunger competition and won $5,000. The money was donated to Don Bosco in an effort to help fight hunger in Port Chester. 

Family and Consumer Sciences teacher Allison Silverman, who leads the project, fought back tears while thanking the many different people involved in the project.

Genuinely grateful for all the volunteer help, Silverman explained how everyone from the district’s Building and Grounds Department, to the students, to family volunteers, contributed to the garden’s success. PCMS Principal Patrick Swift and Open Door Director of Clinical Services Ellette Hirschorn returned Silverman’s gratitude, explaining how her passion and dedication really drives the garden. 

Swift told stories about how he has seen Silverman lugging her husband and son up the hill to the garden after school hours and on weekends to make sure the plants were watered and healthy. Silverman started the garden seven years ago and relies on the students and volunteers to make it a success.

The Family and Consumer Science classes, the 8th grade Leadership students and the DelBianco Academy, under the leadership of Silverman, all contributed to the garden. It also serves as a way to teach children about healthy foods, where food comes from and good nutrition and the importance of sustainability. All the vegetables are organic

Approximately 60 percent of the food has been given to local food pantries and soup kitchens, and 30 percent to Family Membership volunteers. The additional 10% will be taken into the Middle School classroom kitchen for students to learn how to prepare each crop.

The students grew Rosa Bianca Eggplant, Brilliant Beets, Dino Kale, Lemon Cucumber, Basil Bouquet, Cosmonaut Tomato, Stone Ridge Tomato, North Red Pepper, Rainbow Chard, Snap peas, pie pumpkin, zucchini, squash, radishes, cauliflower, okra, carrots, oregano, tomatoes, tomatillo, cayenne peppers, purple beauty peppers, habanera peppers, redwing onion and Blacktail Mountain Watermelon.

“My favorite is the watermelon,” said Hernandez. He and his two classmates Ronald Contreras and Jorge Lopez agreed it was much better than what you get from the store.

The kids said they learned that growing and harvesting a garden is hard work but they had fun doing it and learning about nutrition. Hernandez said that they especially enjoyed preparing the food for the reception because they got to do it all on their own after watching Silverman show them one example.

After Silverman finished thanking the volunteers and donators, she read the Giving Garden’s wish list:

• An updated and professionally installed irrigation system
• A learning greenhouse for year round educational opportunities
• Donation of seeds
• Committed volunteers
• Compost and top soil to turn over beds in spring
• New mulch in between beds

• Periodic landscaping support

• A pear tree

“The garden already has a peach and an apple tree and a pear tree would just finish the job,” Silverman said smiling.

Other supporters recognized at the reception for donating supplies, work, time and money were Peter Coperine and Coperine Landscaping, Byram Mason Building and Stone Supply, Crossroads Hydroponics, Home Depot and Stop & Shop. Local volunteers were: Jesus Coyt and family, Gloria Ducimaza and family, Judith Mora and family, Milagros Neyra, Caroline Nolan and family, Misha Silverman and Megan Tiso. The PCMS Custodial staff and school district’s building and grounds department were also recognized for their help with the project. Silverman also thanked representatives from Whole Foods market for their work with the community promoting healthy eating and nutrition.