The making of an edible garden

A year or so ago, I decided to start an edible garden at my daughters’ elementary school. I had a number of good reasons for wanting to do it.

First, I’d been introduced to Alice Waters’ amazing Edible Schoolyard in Berkeley. Second, I’d just finished reading Animal, Vegetable, Miracle and realized that my kids had zero connection with growing seasons (though they maintain an intimate relationship with mac ‘n’ cheese). Third, have you seen cafeteria lunches lately?

Little did I know it would become such a massive project. A year later, after many hours of planning, designing, fundraising, educating, coaxing and shoveling, I have something to show. What I did this summer: