WEST ORANGE, NJ - Students at Edison Middle School had their science classes outside on Oct. 29 to participate in hands-on environmental cleaning of the community gardens, in an annual effort dubbed "Harvest Day." They worked all day to clean out the gardens and prepare them for winter.

The community garden was the brainchild of former science teacher Martha Smalley. Her goal was to inspire a love of science and the environment through gardening. To sustain the project, Edison formed a partnership with the Metropolitan YMCA of the Oranges, who applied for grant monies for garden necessities like a shed and greenhouse. They received grants from Whole Foods and Bank of America for those projects.

According to garden director Cherie Kipple, "The YMCAs have long supported gardening as part of their mission for wellness."

The Edison Environmental club regularly meets in the gardens and takes on projects that help the environment, along with William Fatica, their advisor. STEM lessons are also a regular part of the gardens' functions.

Visitors to the gardens will find bee-friendly pollinator flowers, vegetables, and herbs. There are sprinklers on-site to water the beds. Interestingly, the gardens are used year-round. In the summer, the Edison Garden beds are used by neighborhood gardeners. Raised beds are assigned after an application review, and preference is given to neighborhood residents.

Under sunny autumn skies, students enthusiastically raked and mulched the beds while helping the environment.

SEE ALL THE PHOTOS FROM HARVEST DAY AT EMS HERE.