Written by MacGregor ’25, Casey ’25, and Holly ’26
Before the LWW break, students in the CSGC Growing Green co-curricular program successfully grew, harvested, and donated over 40 pounds of organic spinach and kale to the Food Bank of Western Mass. The produce was used in community meals at Stone Soup in Greenfield.
The growing process was exciting, sustainable and educational. In the greenhouse we use practices such as aquaculture, hydroponics, four season growing, vermiculture, cover crops, rainwater collection, and natural pest management. The first steps were focused on creating healthy soil to support the crops. Students filled raised beds with nutrient-dense compost. But the soil still needed one of the most important nutrients– nitrogen. To add this, a cover crop was planted, grown, and turned into the soil before students planted the spinach and kale seeds. The cover crop students used was field peas which have nitrogen fixing bacteria on their roots, so chemical fertilizers are needed. Students ran into another challenge when they saw pests on the plants. Instead of using harmful pesticides students introduced assassin bugs to the greenhouse which eat the pests. They also used an organic soap as a pest deterrent.
These sustainable practices allowed for healthy organic plants to grow and be shared in the wider food system in the Pioneer Valley. The significance of our donations is rooted in local issues around food insecurity. About 18% of children in Franklin County experience food insecurity, and the county is ranked top three in food insecurity in the state. By working with our community partners we provide nutritious organic food for people who don’t have reliable access. This helps combat food insecurity in the area and empowers the whole of Western Massachusetts to join in the practices of organic sustainable farming. Our donation is important not only because it gets food to those experiencing food insecurity but also because the food is sustainably grown which helps both people and ecosystems. We are lucky to be able to make these contributions year-round due to our ability to grow through the winter. If you’re interested in helping in the greenhouse, please reach out to the CSGC or join the Growing Green co-curric this spring.