This is my second year working at BUGS, and I love it! I was assigned to assist in the garden by planting, harvesting, weeding, trellising, and fertilizing. I helped plant fennel, lettuce, kohlrabi, carrots, cover crop, tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, and other such vegetables. I harvested tomatoes, zucchini, fennel, elderberries, raspberries, onions, carrots, and potatoes. My goal working at BUGS was to learn more about the gardening processes and problems to take back information for my horticulture and botany classes. I learned about the benefits of cover crops to help improve soil conditions. I learned about different varieties of vegetables that are specific for growing in greenhouses. I also learned better ways to improve carrot and fennel yields as well as protecting leafy greens from insects and animals without using harmful chemicals. With the knowledge I have gained, I am hoping to incorporate a more “hands-on” approach in my classes. I want to allow my students more opportunities to work through real world problems to help them retain knowledge because they worked it out on their own with my guidance. BUGS is a great place to get your hands dirty, sweat a lot, and learn so many important factors about sustainable/regenerative gardening.

Grade Level and Subject Taught: Middle School Science, High School Botany/Horticulture