Students grow and thrive through ‘First Peas to the Table’
Amidst the flurry of snowstorms that have consumed the Northern Neck this winter, springlike days have managed to wiggle their way into the early part of March and allow students in Northumberland High School’s Practical Assessment Exploration System (PAES) program to experience the joys of planting and growing peas as part of “First Peas to the Table.”
Based on Susan Grigsby’s story about a girl who plants a pea garden using a head start from U.S. President Thomas Jefferson’s Garden Book, “First Peas to the Table” is a competition in which participants from around the state seek to grow peas as Jefferson did with his garden at Monticello.
Special Education teacher Tammy Wilkins said that each class period has their own block of peas. Wilkins added her hope that they will be able to take the students to visit Monticello.
Wilkins said the students have learned through the project how to grow and fix the garden.
The students plant the seeds and monitor the peas’ growth. Wilkins records their planting activities and will submit the results for the contest.
“In conjunction with this, they’re learning how to count money, so they can make change…how to deal with the public,” Wilkins said.
Grow boxes and topsoil for the peas were provided by the Northumberland County’s Virginia Cooperative Extension Office, said Extension Agent Landre Toulson.
—Read the full story in the March 19 issue of the Northumberland Echo, on stands now!