Our Urban Garden to extend beyond PS 39!

Trish and Frieda extend their green thumbs toward the Park Slope community.

Trish does some Fall planting with Ms. Cassens Pre-K class

Winter is about to set in, yet spring is still in the air! It’s all thanks to the exciting expansion plans for our urban garden. After a successful first harvest (and the addition of an incredible cafeteria salad bar), Trish Mulligan and Frieda Lim are taking the garden to a higher ground.
“We want to reach out,” Trish says. “That was always our plan.”
The plan is to build alliances with other local schools and community organizations. The goal is to grow the garden beyond its current borders and involve neighbors outside the PS 39 universe.
Talks are in the works, and Frieda and Trish hope to have some more news soon.
 “Hopefully, Trish and I will nail this down in the next couple of weeks,” Frieda says, “to officially say there is an alliance.”

Fifth grader Oona with late Summer cucumber harvest

Expansion plans have stemmed as a result of the great reception to the garden from both students and parents. The initiative is to allow the kids to enjoy an interactive role in the foods they eat, and also to introduce them to healthier food choices.

“Here are these kids cramming over to taste basil,” Frieda says.  “And they loved the kale.”
The students’ enthusiastic response has even led them to visit Frieda’s roof, where she grows her own vegetables.

“The magic of growth has been planted,” Trish says. “The seed has been planted. I love [the kids’] reaction. It’s very rewarding, I have to say.”
Of course, we’ll keep you up to date on any future news blooming from our garden.

First year, end of Summer bounty

 -- Ron Sklar, PS 39 Reporter at Large