ROCKLAND – Behind the Youthlinks Center on Broadway, the dedicated 8-12 grade soldiers of the Student Garden Army have turned a field into a garden. On Saturday, Aug. 16, they showed off their hard work to members of the community.

“We’ve been seeing a need in the community to educate people about food and nutrition,” said Program Manager Hannah Magnusson.

The Grassroots Garden at Youthlinks is operated in association with RSU 13. Students visit during classes and gardening is one of Youthlinks’ many afterschool programs. The Student Garden Army is an eight-week summer program where student gardeners develop, plant and harvest the garden.

Along the way they learn how to grow their own food and eat healthy.

This summer Magnusson and the nine Garden Army students, with the help of community partners and volunteers, have been working on redoing and expanding the garden and greenhouse to supply more produce to RSU 13 and the community around them.

So far the Garden Army has donated 21 pounds of produce to the AIO food pantry and hosted monthly soup kitchens at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church.

Director Kris Koerber explained that this outreach is part of Youthlinks’ core mission, to connect students to their community.

“We’re about a relationship with kids, with students, and with the community,” Koerber said. “It’s really great to see some of the community members here today.”

All of the students were assigned sections of the garden for Saturday’s tour, and spoke knowledgeably to visitors about the plants in their sections and what they had learned during the summer program.

Kartarina Cova explained that you should not water tomatoes on their leaves, because they can grow bacteria, a problem the Student Garden Army has had to deal with this summer.

“I thought it was okay to water the leaves on all plants but I learned that you should only do that on certain plants,” Cova said. “So, I lived and learned.”

She added, holding up a yellow-fleshed potato she had just harvested, “Speaking of tomatoes, you shouldn’t plant potatoes right after you’ve grown tomatoes. Because they’re a similar kind of plant and they’re susceptible to the same blights.”

For Mariah Blake, learning was the best part.

I love learning about the garden,” Blake said. “I love learning about how it all works.”

Kelsey Grant oversaw a kids’ game area, full of activities that she designed herself, including a collage board and a ‘pin the petal on the flower’ game.

“It’s been a great summer. We all get along great, like a family,” Grant said. “It’s been a lot of hard work, but now it looks great.”

Judy Block, who has been volunteering with Youthlinks for years, agreed that the garden looks good.

She added that she has been impressed with the work the students have done, and enjoys having the chance to help out.

“It’s a really nice opportunity for volunteerism,” Block said.

Another volunteer, Susan St. John, was working the gate. Her children have benefitted from Youthlinks programs. She said she’s been glad to see the Student Garden Army gaining valuable skills.

“I see in them a great pride for what they’ve done and they deserve it,” St. John said. “When they have done this they will have it forever.”

The summer program runs Monday through Thursday. Every morning the students gather at the “command post” to be divided into three companies.

These groups weed and water the garden and have a leadership circle where they answer questions about leadership, team building and ways they could improve or change the garden in the future.

The students have also been running a weekly farm stand, and have raised over $300 so far.

Magnusson explained that the army terms, calling the groups “companies” and the meeting room a “command post,” helps build up teamwork and motivation.

“They’ve been working really hard, and it’s been pretty challenging,” Magnusson said.

While the garden has expanded this summer, there’s always more work to be done. Renovating and expanding the greenhouse is still a big project that Magnusson and others hope will eventually extend the garden’s growing season.

She added that she hopes the tour will help, since as a non-profit Youthlinks relies on community support and awareness. The garden tour was also “a way for the students to gain ownership of their garden.”

For more information on Youthlinks and their programs, click here.