Along with the wide array of clubs that Judson is proud to host, we can look forward to gaining a community garden. Mr. Dylan Stephens, Coach Paul Guenther, Mr. Lucas Lovelace, and a variety of organizations collaborated to create a garden on campus.

“It was a project I had gotten involved with on a previous campus and it was something I wanted to bring to Judson High School because it was really productive. We got a lot of involvement in the community and so I wanted to bring that back [here],” Stephens said.

Students will be able to cultivate their own produce in the grassy knoll between the P and G wing at the back of the school. 

“We have all this wasted space between the buildings and we’re hoping that the domino effect happens and eventually we’ll have a beautiful campus surrounded by beautiful greenery,” Lovelace said.

A variety of organic crops will be grown, ranging from strawberries to onions as well as flowers. 

“I know that we’re still gonna implement flowers as well, roses, just different ones that go with the seasons. I know we’re gonna try to have a couple of fruit trees out there. I know that we’re getting a blueberry bush and a blackberry bush as well,” Lovelace said.

There are many purposes for the garden, such as promoting healthy eating practices and showing students how easy it can be to raise their own fresh produce. Along with this, they hope to hold community events.

“[We plan] to help disadvantaged families here at our community, so we can give them free produce. We’re also going to try to have Saturday morning farmers markets here on campus, so we can raise money to keep our garden funded,” Lovelace said. 

They hope to one day expand enough to have a door leading from the school directly to the garden and possibly a group of at least six students who will be able to work strictly on sustaining the plots. 

“[Students can get involved by] just volunteering their time. If they’re part of an organization, advocate for it. [If they’re not in an organization], I’m seeing if [administration] can get a group of kids who can be given a plot,” Lovelace said.

The students and sponsors (involved in the garden) are looking forward to seeing what they can do to help the community.