Milford High School and Pre-Vocational classroom teacher Dr. Lexi Forgit has been awarded a grant in the amount of $3,500 from the Whole Foods Foundation “Whole Kids Garden Grant” program. Dr. Forgit submitted a grant application last spring, seeking funding to refresh and grow (pun intended!) the courtyard garden at Milford High School.  

Funding will go towards garden supplies such as fresh soil, seeds, and garden equipment, as well as the construction and repair of garden beds on the upper terrace of the MHS courtyard.

Dr. Forgit and her students in the Pre-Vocational program at Milford High have maintained a robust garden overlooking the courtyard for a number of years.  Students help plant, care for, and pick fresh vegetables and herbs. In the process of learning about the science of plants and gardening, students also learn about food preparation and healthy eating.  Some of these vegetables and herbs also make their way to the Milford High School cafeteria where Chef Carla Tuttle and her team work with the students to incorporate these ingredients into our salad bar or other recipes.

“We’ve grown tomatoes, lettuce, and a variety of other vegetables, in addition to herbs like basil and dill. This year, we’ve already planted some garlic bulbs in preparation for next year’s crop. Our students love caring for the garden and seeing the development of the plants from seed to sprout to edible food. Getting outside and getting our hands dirty is a lot of fun too!” said Dr. Forgit. “Students really love seeing their hard work make it all the way to the cafeteria for staff and students to enjoy. It provides a great sense of accomplishment.”

As part of the grant funding provided by the Whole Foods Foundation, Dr. Forgit will also be working with Mr. Tim Dowd, MHS Building Trades teacher, to repair and replace some of the raised garden and herb beds. MHS students in the building trades classes will be constructing these gardens which they hope will produce an abundance of healthy vegetables and herbs next spring.

Dr. Forgit added, “Partnering with Mr. Dowd and his students is a really fantastic opportunity for our school community.  Some of our raised garden beds are getting a bit older and are starting to decay. The building trades students have built some really awesome projects over the years, so we’re eager to see what they’ll do for the garden.  

MHS Principal Josh Otlin shared, “We want to thank Whole Foods Foundation for their grant funding, which will allow students from across MHS to participate in a wonderful multi-disciplinary learning project. This is an outstanding example of hands-on learning in action, and showcases how students and teachers at Milford High School work together for the benefit of the community.”

About Whole Kids

Founded in 2011 by Whole Foods Market, Whole Kids is dedicated to improving children’s health and wellness through their nutrition. Whole Kids is a pillar of Whole Foods Market Foundation, a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. For more information on the project’s school programs including school gardens, salad bars, beehives, and nutrition education for teachers, visit wholefoodsmarketfoundation.org.