The horticulture and sustainability classes at Islesboro Central School offer a wide variety of experiences. Students learn basic and advanced gardening skills – from seed starting and plant propagation to pruning fruit trees and grape vines. Students learn to operate basic garden tools and machinery safely, order and inventory supplies and operate a year-round greenhouse. The garden and orchard supply food for the school cafeteria, staff and students; produce is also sold at the community farmer’s market.
Students are heavily involved in the current redesign of the enclosed garden/orchard plot, as well as deciding which programs (garden greenhouses, aquaponics, aquaculture, animal husbandry, beekeeping, composting, etc.) are sustainable and practical at our site. The horticulture program at Islesboro collaborates with many other classes, from installing sculpture in the garden to mapping the space to performing science experiments or making grape juice or apple cider in outdoor education class.
