Building Community with New Britain High School Garden Club

When Alyssa Hughes began teaching at New Britain High School, she saw an opportunity for the students to get more involved with the school’s garden. As a former New Britain FoodCorps Service Member, she connected with ROOTS to get the club off the ground in fall 2021.

The New Britain High School Garden Club began with just a handful of students and has grown to have 15 regular weekly members. As a student-led and -initiated group, each week’s activities are guided by student interests. At the beginning of the school year, students focused on harvesting from the garden and using the ingredients to cook after school. With the newly installed aquaponics greenhouse, students came up with a feeding and care plan for the fish.

Throughout the winter months, students' ideas informed the club’s spring plans. Garden club members celebrated Earth Day by planting potatoes, painting the existing garden beds, and building four new garden beds to grow in at the high school. For Mother’s Day, the students hosted a seedling sale and raised several hundred dollars that will support the club’s future activities.

“I’ve watched students find a sense of belonging within their community here in the gardens. Some of my own students participate in the club and I’ve watched their confidence grow. Most of the students who joined didn’t know anyone in the group, and now they’ve created their own little community. It’s a very open club and anyone is welcome,” Alyssa shares.

In a recent garden club meeting, students shared what they enjoy most about their weekly meetings. “Seeing the growth of the plants from tiny seeds to big plants is really amazing. All the plants are different in their own way - their shapes, sizes, and the way they grow. When I’m older I want to grow my own food, and I’m learning how to do that in the club,” one student shared.

“I’m in the club that’s the most fun and I love being outside after spending all day inside. Normally I wouldn’t go outside after school so this pushes me to go outside,” said another.

As Alyssa shares, “Our partnership with New Britain ROOTS makes the garden club possible. Joey joins us every week in the garden, and it’s a great way for students to connect with their home community. ROOTS connects students to job and volunteer opportunities, and fosters a sense of pride in being from New Britain.”