Why did the tomato cross the road?
     To get to the new York School roof-top garden.

In a time when society craves variety and convenience it is interesting to see how groups of environmentally conscious people are starting to have an impact on how we can move to a more simple life, at least where food is concerned. One such group, a number of grade 8 pupils called the “ECO TEAM”, is having a go at living life from the land.  

They are starting a new initiative at the York School - creating a roof top garden with as much recycled material as possible.  The garden will be sustainable, and fully organic. The project began during the students’ study of the “Politics of Food”. With a mission to become part of the local food movement and to learn how they can contribute to saving the environment, the students embarked upon this special project. Their mission statement incorporates three factors. We are a little patch of green. We will give back to the community. We will make our school eco-friendly.

The students commenced their planting of the seeds in early March.  In keeping with the idea of simple and traditional, they chose multiple heirloom varieties of tomatoes, some dating back to over a hundred years ago, all of which are organic.  A cornucopia of vegetables will be seeded later in the spring including heirloom lettuce, tomatoes, peas, and radishes.

Next week the group will be preparing the planting areas on the roof and hope to sow the following week. All manner of recycled containers will be used for planting and there are plans afoot for rigging up a rain barrel.

“It is our hope that our little patch of green will become a big part of a growing movement at The York School to be as eco-friendly as we can.” say the group.