A Rich
Harvest
This Indian Springs School
farm stand provides valuable
lessons—and delicious produce.
BY JEANA DURST
We are fortunate to have many farmer’s
markets in the Birmingham area. But how many
of them also support children’s education? That’s
what’s been happening at The Fertile Minds
over a decade now. And this summer, the yield
is as abundant as ever. However, it’s been a
number of visitors to the school and changing the
way the garden is cultivated.
this year and how we can support their ongoing
effort to inspire young minds by enjoying
delicious organic food at home.
than 30 varieties of organic fruits and vegetables
that are used in meals prepared by the school’s
the efforts of biology instructor Bob Pollard,
who has spent countless hours mentoring his
ninth-grade students who tend the garden as
part of their biology curriculum. “We pride
ourselves on the opportunity to learn outside of
the classroom and apply knowledge to real-world
student of Pollard’s and enjoyed her time working
the garden.) Here students are getting to see on a
macro level what they would have learned in the
classroom, like how photosynthesis works. “It’s
learning through living at its best,” Pollard says.
where their food comes from, they also learn how
chemical-free solutions address agricultural issues
22 Bham Family August 2020
HEALTHY LIVING
Customers can order produce from the The Fertile Minds
Learning Garden at Indian Springs School from Monday
through Thursday for pickup on Friday.
such as soil health and pest control. And they
discover the value of composting to reduce waste
and enrich the soil.
We’ve heard the saying, “many hands make
light work.” It’s a concept that has kept this
the adaptations it demands, Pollard has been
spearheading this effort without the usual help.
That’s why it’s more important than ever to
support his hard work. The best way to do so is
to purchase produce—or organic eggs—from
the farm stand this summer, and now is a perfect
Though visits to the campus are limited, you
can order online from Monday through Thursday
and pick up your produce on Friday from
food banks. For more information or to place an
order, visit indiansprings.org/student-life/garden.
/garden