“Last year was all about groundwork, quite literally,” Oakes shared. “The kids spent most of the spring shoveling soil and preparing the beds for planting. The teachers here have been incredibly supportive, and the kids were so excited–it’s been a joy to watch.”

This fall, the club’s first meeting was a moment of discovery for many new fifth and sixth-grade members.

“Their first experience was harvesting potatoes, picking peppers, and learning where peas come from,” Oakes said. “Most of them had never seen fresh produce like that, let alone tasted it. Watching their surprise and enthusiasm was incredible.”

The Garden Club’s revival has been made possible with significant support from the community and the New York State Farm to School initiative. The school received a $5,000 grant from the state’s Farm to School Institute, enabling a team of staff and community members to attend workshops near Albany and access resources to enhance their efforts.

A student holds a freshly grown squash in the Washington Middle School garden.

As part of the grant, a Farm to School Committee was formed, bringing together diverse expertise. The committee includes Scott Johnson, food service director, local farmer Jim Barber (who also happens to be Oakes’ father), school psychologist Mary Soto, JPS board of education member and retired teacher Nina Karbacka, Fletcher Cobbsek, an ELA interventionist, and community navigators Yanira Castellano and Carmen Perez. Josie Laurie from Cornell Cooperative Extension has been an invaluable asset to the team. Together, they meet monthly to develop strategies to integrate fresh, local food into the school’s curriculum and cafeteria.

One of the team’s goals is to bring local produce, meats, and other foods into the cafeteria. Students are encouraged to sample these fresh foods and vote on their favorites, helping to guide future menu options.

“It’s a fun and interactive way to teach them about the benefits of fresh, nutritious food compared to processed options,” Oakes explained.

The Garden Club also emphasizes broader life skills.

“It’s about teamwork, patience, and learning the rewards of nurturing something over time,” Oakes shared. “I hope it’s an experience they carry with them, maybe even inspiring them to start gardens of their own someday.”

Washington ENL teacher Debbie Oakes works with students on weeding a school garden bed. Oakes has helped revive the school’s garden over the last several years with the help of colleagues and community members.

The program has also benefited from donations from the Jamestown Public Market and the Vietnam Veterans, a testament to the widespread community support for exposing children to farm-to-school initiatives.

“It’s heartwarming to see that people believe in connecting kids to fresh, local food,” Oakes said.

On the back of the garden’s sign reads the phrase “Help & Harvest: It heals the soul.” A student-created motto, it perfectly captures the spirit of their work, serving as a powerful reminder of how something as simple as a garden can cultivate lasting lessons and connections for students and the community alike.