In the heart of Boston’s North End, mornings at St. John School begin with more than lessons. In one of the school’s bright indoor growing spaces, students gather around vertical garden towers, checking roots, testing pH levels, and carefully harvesting fresh herbs and leafy greens. Their voices fill the room as they share stories from the weekend, discuss their favorite plants, and exchange tips on nurturing the produce that thrives under their care.
These garden towers, part of a hydroponic system that uses water, light, and nutrients to cultivate plants indoors, are maintained by the school community. Each week, they harvest bags of basil, arugula, lettuce, and more, preparing them for donation. The greens are then delivered from the school to the Franciscan Food Center, where they are distributed to individuals transitioning from homelessness to housing.
This project, initiated 10 years ago by Karen Shea, began as a small growing station in her home and has blossomed into a thriving garden program integrated into the school curriculum. Students as young as three are introduced to the fundamentals of plant care. As they grow, they assume greater responsibilities such as testing nutrient levels, measuring water, recording harvest weights, removing roots, composting, and even managing spreadsheets. Older students guide the younger ones with patience and pride, passing along their knowledge and helping them build confidence as caretakers of the garden. Almost everything in the room reflects this deep student involvement. From the plants to the painted signs, even the wooden fence lining the space was built and painted by the children themselves. The garden serves as an unconventional classroom, a living and breathing space where learning unfolds through touch, observation, and care.
The lessons extend beyond science and math, touching the core of human experience. “Many of these kids will one day work in roles that do not yet exist,” Karen reflects. “What they are learning here is timeless. The importance of showing up, of caring for something with consistency, and of being present in the moment.”
This presence is evident in students like Bailey, a fourth grader, who shares how basil became his favorite ingredient. “I like putting it on my pizza and salad,” he says, his eyes reflecting a deep appreciation for the memories he cultivates of his grandmother while tending to the plants at school. Such moments of reflection, intertwined with family memories, demonstrate how simple acts like harvesting herbs can connect us to the people and places we cherish.
Each week, students sort the harvest into donations and compost, measure and weigh the bags, and tag them with small painted crosses symbolizing the love infused into every step of the process. The freshest greens in Boston, cultivated during the school day, are delivered to the Franciscan Food Center to be shared with individuals rebuilding their lives.
Mary Ann Ponti, Director of Outreach and Community Engagement at St. Anthony Shrine, observes that recipients often collect these colorful crosses, cherishing them as tokens of the children’s care and the community’s support.
Karen often speaks about the rich character of the North End community, where people greet one another in the streets and maintain weekly rituals like visiting the same local bakery and butcher. These practices sustain relationships and deepen a sense of belonging. It is a neighborhood built on familiarity and mutual care, where the joy of daily tasks holds a long lasting sense of unity. Karen and Mary Ann, who went to college together, now carry this same spirit into their work, each making a lasting impact across Boston through their dedication to the community and social change.
This same sense of care and presence is nurtured in the garden. Karen notes how the youngest students develop a profound connection to their senses as they interact with the plants. They rub basil leaves between their fingers, carrying the scent with them throughout the day. They explore the varying textures of each green, noticing the diversity of colors and subtle shifts in shade. These early encounters with nature leave an imprint that extends well beyond childhood.
As they work, students follow the engineering design process by identifying, investigating, imagining, planning, creating, experimenting, improving, and communicating. Beyond these steps, they learn to act with intention, remain grounded in the present, and offer something of value to others with love.
In these moments, spirituality and science intertwine. Many recall family members who spoke to their plants, believing affection aided growth. This belief endures at the school, where children are reminded daily that the energy they give matters. Through love, presence, and commitment, the garden flourishes.
The impact of this work reaches beyond the classroom and the food center. It invites all of us to consider how we can support one another and create meaning through small, consistent acts of care.
As summer approaches, there is hope that this project can continue uninterrupted. With community support, the harvests can persist and the cycle of giving remains unbroken. This endeavor reminds us that in tending to the earth and each other, we cultivate more than food. We nurture presence, community, and love.
