Under the direction of teachers Julie Goler and Darrell Smith and with the costs underwritten by their PTSA and ROP, Beverly Hills High School recently installed two raised beds using a variation of Mel Bartholomew’s "Square Foot Garden." According to Julie Goler, the idea is to “create a living breathing space for produce that will ultimately be used in the culinary arts program.”

The program started with the building of raised beds in two 10x 3 boxes with room for 60  different crops. Following a visit by Jo Anne Trigo from Two Dog Nursery, the students put in crops that include kale, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, beets, arugula, sweet peas, spinach and romaine. Future plans include fruit trees and blueberry bushes – and a rotating composter arrives this week.

The garden is envisioned as a collaborative effort and is also as an example for those with space as small as an apartment balcony of what’s possible in a small space.