Work on the land is an introduction both to nature and to civilization and gives a limitless field for scientific and historic studies. If the produce can be used commercially this brings in the fundamental mechanism of society, that of production and exchange, on which economic life is based. This means that there is an opportunity to learn both academically and through actual experience what are the elements of social life.

Maria Montessori From Childhood to Adolescence

In Arbor Montessori School Adolescent Program's gardening program, not only are students learning about plant biology, genetics, photosynthesis, matter cycles, and chemistry, they are also learning about the history of agricultural civilization, food production and distribution. By sharing the fruit of their labors with members of the neighborhood, they are developing relationships as individuals within the local community. All of these elements are brought together because the students participate in the very systems that they are studying.

Increased production has been the focus of our work for during the 2011-12 school year and we are making significant progress. We started the year by harvesting okra and over 50 pounds of sweet potatoes. In March 2012, close to 30 pounds of carrots were harvested and sold at the Arbor Market with 5 pounds being sold to Sprig, a local restaurant - a first for our program! We also succeeded at raising beets and broccoli and peas and the strawberries are now ripening and being harvested during April - almost six weeks early for our area!!! And we should have our first one quart harvest on our blueberries within the month!

The garden has expanded to include a grape arbor with our first vines planted in March as well as raspberries from the Georgia Organics sale and blackberries propagating in Jacqui's yard! We are attempting to root fig trees from cuttings taken by Kamilah while trimming her tree in Roswell.